Lord Jesus

Today’s reading: 1 Corinthians 9:1-18

“If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.” - 1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Paul is disavowing the idea of the minister as a patriarchal overlord or master. Paul believes that there is only one Lord over the ekklēsia—Jesus Christ.” - Ben Witherington III

In our passage for today, Paul lays out a solid theological argument for vocational ministers to be paid to meet their living expenses. Yet he lays no claim on it. Instead, the Apostle seems to use his refusal of funding as an opportunity to prove his intentions. He was there for them and not what they had to offer.

Paul, with no family to care for, was able to make this lifestyle work with spurts of tent-making with the power couple, Priscilla and Aquila. Yet he knew other ministers didn’t have this luxury.

Is this how we react when Jesus asks us to do something a certain way? If He’s our Lord, we want him calling the shots.

We trust you to lead us, Jesus.