According
to Paul the apostle, since he and his companions “sowed”
to the
church members in Corinth “spiritual
things, is it a great thing if”
they “shall reap”
the church members' “carnal things”?
In chapter nine and verse twelve of First
Corinthians, Paul asked
the Corinthians concerning “others”
being “partakers of this power over”
them
where we read:
If
others be partakers of this
power over you, are
not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer
all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
The
verse begins, “If
others be partakers of this
power over you, are
not we rather?” Paul
began with the words, “If others”
which means “forasmuch as and whether other people” “be
partakers” or
“participate, use and take part”
“of this power”
or “concerning this liberty, leave, ability or permission”
“over you” which
refers to “over the church members in Corinth”, “are
not we” or
“should not Paul and his companions have this” “rather”
which means “more, to a greater degree, sooner, more willingly and
readily”? Since other people exercised “liberty and ability”
over the church members in Corinth without being the ones who
introduced them to Jesus Christ and began the church, shouldn't Paul
and his companions deserve remuneration “to a greater degree”?
The
verse continues, “Nevertheless
we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should
hinder the gospel of Christ.”.
Paul added
the words, “Nevertheless” or
“not withstanding, nay, moreover, but” “we
have not used”
which means “Paul and his companions did not act, entreat or take
for their use” “this power”
which means “this liberty, leave, ability or permission”; “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was just stated “suffer”
which means “keep, hide, conceal and cover by silence” “all
things” or
“each, every, the whole, everyone and everything”, “lest”
which means “in order and so that” “we
should hinder”
or “that Paul and his companions might give, bestow, grant, supply,
furnish and deliver” “the gospel”
which means “the good news and glad tidings of the kingdom of God
soon to be set up and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah who is
the founder of this kingdom” “of
Christ” who
is “the anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Because
“the gospel” of
Jesus Christ was so important to share with people, Paul and his
companions did not exercise their right to receive any remunerations
which should have been given to them.
When
we consider these words from Paul, we see his determination not to
allow anything to inhibit people from receiving “the gospel of
Jesus Christ”. Paul and his companions shunned even the
appearance of desiring “gifts” or “provisions” from the
church in Corinth, lest someone accuse them of being into the
ministry for the “perks”. What a marvelous example Paul and his
companions are to those who minister and are in the church today.
Instead of discovering what “incentive or wage package” a church
has for the minister when he is hired, how wonderful it would be if
he was more concerned about people receiving the “good news” of
Jesus Christ rather than how he would be supported. This was Paul's
method, and I'm quite certain Jesus Christ gave him all the
provisions he needed to sustain his physical life.
Next
time Paul asks the church members if they, “know
that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the
temple”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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