1 Corinthians 9:1-14
“Sharing the Harvest”
Sermon by
Mark A. Horne
Kenedy Smartt tells a story that happened during his first call at West End Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Virginia. During a missions conference a fire broke out in the attic of the west wing. Eventually the blaze overtook the whole church and the church was destroyed. He tells about all they had to do to accommodate themselves while construction was taking place. The school had to be moved to a gymnasium, the worship service was moved to a nearby public elementary school. Yet, he notes that there was a spirit with in the church that seemed to have arisen from the fire such that membership grew and so did their finances. He states however, of the three things that he remembers as a result of that fire one sticks out impressively. It was of Harold Borchert. He was there preaching at the missions conference. And he had a valuable Bible on his missionary display table, which was under the balcony in the sanctuary, and although all that was in the sanctuary was burned up, his Bible was marvelously spared from even a singe.
In our passage this morning, Paul reminded his readers at Corinth about the kind of relationship he had with them and what it had turned into by the time he wrote this letter. What we have to see before we can understand this passage is the situation that had developed. Paul had been faithful to this church. Yet they had been attacking him from every angle. They had tried him from the angle of knowledge. They had tried him from the angle of doing immoral things that they should not have. Paul even gives them a stern but loving warning in chapter 3 verse 14. But now, now he has to defend his apostleship. He has to defend whom he is in Christ and the task chosen for him in Christ. What we shall see before we reach the end of this passage is this: just like Harold Borchert who had his valuable Bible spared from the flames of fire; so Paul will have a valuable gospel he preaches spared from the fire of ridicule the Corinthians are placing him under.
And the way Paul’s gospel is spared is the statement following the questions that end in verse 12. Paul says, “Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.” This one statement is the point to the whole discussion in chapter 9. As we have seen and will continue to see, Paul had numerous rights as an Apostle, but he did not use them. He did not claim them. Why? Why would he not take up these rights that are guaranteed to Him? It is one word L.O.V.E. – Love. Paul loved the Corinthians. Keeping in mind what we learned last week about not being a stumbling block to others, Paul extends that concept to his own personal practices with the Corinthians.
Now – I have given you the main point of the whole chapter. I am not going to give you any more points to write down or remember for today or for next week. I want you to remember the point – sometimes we have to give up rights or personal claims in order to show a Christ-like love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me repeat - sometimes we have to give up rights or personal claims in order to show a Christ-like love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. And the way I want to attack our passage this morning is by answering three questions. And I want you to think seriously about these questions as we study in light of Paul’s attitude and the Corinthians’ attitude.
How successful is your ministry?
Look at verses 1&2. Read. What seems to be the Corinthian’s attitude in the situation that is being described? It’s the same thing that Paul has been discussing this whole letter, arrogance. There were some in the church that questioned Paul’s Apostleship. But it wasn’t just a question of his character it was a defense for theirs. These Corinthians were behaving so badly. They were acting in ways that Christ was not showing through in their life. And instead of working out their sanctification in prayer – they defended what they were doing by attacking Paul’s character. They were saying, “ah we can do what we want to because Paul is not an Apostle!” or they were telling each other “you don’t have to listen to Paul because he is not an Apostle!” How often we get so caught up in our sins that we defend them by attacking others? We don’t put our pride aside and ask for forgiveness from God and then from them. And this batters our ministry for Christ.
However, Paul gives a good example for us? Paul sets those who have questioned him straight about the requirements that he has met for his Apostleship. He has seen the risen Lord Jesus. No amount of discouragement that they could throw out would change that. But notice what other proof he gives for his Apostleship, them! Paul tells them that if they needed proof about who he was and what he was about – they should have looked at themselves! They were his proof, even with your disrespectful attitude about him. It is as if he is saying, “You above all others should own my character and not call it in question.”
So I leave with you the question – how successful is your ministry? The success of your ministry will be the life of this church. If your attitude is that like the Corinthian’s this church will suffer. But if your attitudes is like Paul’s – wanting, desiring, praying, digging to be like Christ then this church will flourish. Who will you own as having a character like yours?
Are you giving materially what is being sown spiritually?
Look at verses 3 though the first half of 12. Paul sets out to answer those who have been examining him or judging him. But he does it in a very specific way. For ten verses Paul asks more than a dozen rhetorical questions. You can feel the emotion he is putting into each question as he writes them.
Notice what the Corinthians attitude toward the situation is. They think that because Paul has refused to take pay from them that they do not have to listen to him. They think that because Paul does not accept pay like the other Apostles that he surely must not be one. Therefore lets not pay attention to the one who has given us so much instruction and spiritual insight!
Again, notice Paul’s defense. His defense is to be supported by the churches. Both he and Barnabas have a right to have their physical needs supported by the church because they are God’s workmen in it. Paul uses illustrations in verses 7-9. Anyone who gives themselves to the way of the world should expect to live out of it. Paul is saying to the Corinthians that it is very reasonable for he and Barnabas or any other minister to expect a livelihood out of their labors. Paul states in verse 8 that even the Law in the Old Testament supports this action. Even the ox gets to taste the fruit of its labors according to the Law (you can look that up in Deuteronomy 25:4). What Paul and Barnabas have sown among them is much better than they expected to reap. They were instruments of conveying to them the great spiritual blessings. Paul had labored so much for their church. And what did he do? He gave up all the material harvest due him that he describes in verse 11. He renounces his rights and claims. Paul was afraid that if he accepted it, it would hinder the success of his ministry. Paul did not want to be a burden to his churches.
So I ask you, are you giving to this church materially what you should considering what you are benefiting from it spiritually?
And let me say, I am not just talking about tithes, even though that is a large portion of what Paul is describing. But it leads to the third question. Are you going to fully support any shepherd God places in this church? Whether it’s another person or me. In other words are you going to give your time and talents to the ministry of Norris Hill?
You see from the Corinthian’s perspective, they did not support Paul because he was not giving them what they wanted. He was not agreeing with them. Some people in Cloe’s house had told on them and they puffed themselves up and didn’t want Paul’s leadership. They felt that if they could deny Paul’s authority then they could be free to do as they wished.
But from Paul’s perspective, he knew they understood that even the pagan temples had altars for people to go and be fed. He wanted the Corinthians to be fed the truth of the gospel. Now we don’t have altars, but we have the pulpit. We have diligent teachers of the Word of God. And to support this ministry means to come and be fed by the Word as it is offered. We should be here together not just on Sunday mornings but on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights as well if at all possible. If we have a musical talent, we should be willing to share that with our brothers and sisters. If we can sing (or attempt it at best), we should be at the scheduled choir practices. If we have a brother or sister whom we are concerned for their salvation, we need to do anything and every thing (like being at their house at 8:30 am to make sure you can get them up and ready) so we can get them to church so they can hear the Word of God. Can you see what Paul is trying to explain to his church? He gave up rights he had to further his ministry and to spread the gospel. Are we truly surrendering our rights to be of service to God? Or are we truly claiming that which is ours and therefore hindering the gospel of Christ?
I want to close this morning with another letter President Lincoln wrote. It is said to be his second most famous letter – the first to Mrs. Bixby, expressing sorrow for the death of the five sons she had lost in battle. However, this letter I am about to read sold for $12,000 at a public auction in 1926 more than Lincoln could have saved during a half century of hard work. It is addressed to Major General Joseph Hooker – and I think it best illustrates in terms that we are familiar with what Paul was trying to tell his Corinthian church.
Executive Mansion
Washington, D.C.
January 26, 1863.
Major General Hooker:
General. I have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of course I have done this upon what appear to me to be sufficient reasons. And yet I think it best for you to know that there are some things in regard to which, I am not quite satisfied with you. I believe you to be a brave and a skilful soldier, which, of course, I like. I also believe you do not mix politics with your profession, in which you are right. You have confidence in yourself, which is a valuable, if not an indispensable quality. You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm. But I think that during Gen. Burnside's command of the Army, you have taken counsel of your ambition, and thwarted him as much as you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country, and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such way as to believe it, of your recently saying that both the Army and the Government needed a Dictator. Of course it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain successes, can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship. The government will support you to the utmost of it's ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the Army, of criticising their Commander, and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can, to put it down. Neither you, nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army, while such a spirit prevails in it.
And now, beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with energy, and sleepless vigilance, go forward, and give us victories.
Yours very truly
A. Lincoln.
What is your attitude in spreading the gospel? Are you going to be the arrogant dictator so the gospel is hindered, or are you going to surrender your rights so the gospel will live in your life and love will show through?
Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I pray today that we will see our imperfections and the things we claim so diligently as ours. Help us Father to surrender our rights and become servants of your Word so that your love can be shown through us. Help us to give without care our material possessions, time and talents to the ministry you have called us to be apart of. Father we are yours. Take us and mold us like clay into the vessels you will have us to be. In you Most Precious and Matchless name. Amen.