Day 19: 9:1-12 (Sacrificing Rights for the Gospel)

Although Paul had the rights of an apostle, he willingly gave up his rights to preach the gospel and lived a life of loving service. 

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 9:1-12
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?  2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3 This is my defense to those who would examine me.
 4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?  5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? 8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.

11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

2. OBSERVATIONS :
a.  What did this passage mean to its original audience? 
Corinth was a city full of public speakers, philosophers, and leaders who expected payment and honor. A teacher who refused payment looked suspicious or “less important.” Some believers questioned Paul’s apostleship because he didn’t take money.  Paul explains that he does have rights, but he chooses not to use them—not because he is weak, but because he loves them. Paul wanted to correct their pride, their misunderstanding of leadership, and their self‑centered view of freedom.

b. What does this passage reveal about God?

• God cares about justice and fairness. He designed the world so that those who work should benefit from their labor.

c. What does this passage reveal about people?

• People naturally cling to their rights. We want what we deserve. We want fairness. We want recognition. And when we feel ignored or treated unfairly, our first instinct is to defend ourselves. But Paul shows a better way: sometimes love means letting go of our rights so the gospel can shine more clearly.

 3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?
Today we live in a culture that strongly emphasizes individual rights. We want what we deserve. We want fairness. We want recognition for our work. And when we feel overlooked or treated unfairly, our first reaction is often to defend ourselves or fight for ourselves. But Paul shows a completely different way. He had real rights—God‑given rights. Yet he willingly laid those rights down so that nothing would get in the way of the gospel.

I learned that mature faith is not about demanding what I deserve. It is about surrendering what I deserve when love requires it. When I look at Paul, I see Jesus through him.  Jesus Himself gave up His rights. He deserved glory, honor, and worship. He is the Son of God. Yet He chose humility. He chose sacrifice. He chose the cross for our salvation.

I want to walk the path that the Apostle Paul walked — the path of following in the footsteps of Jesus. I want to be the kind of person who values the gospel more than personal advantage. I want to be the kind of person who chooses humility over pride. I pray that my life will show that surrender for the sake of love is true, Christlike strength.

4. PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the example of Your Son, Jesus. He had the right to remain in heaven, yet He gave it up to come and die for me. Lord, I confess that I live in a world that tells me to fight for myself. I often feel angry or 'foolish' when I don't get what I deserve. Please forgive my pride and my need for fairness.
Help me to serve without needing recognition. Let nothing in my life become a barrier to someone hearing about Jesus. Shape my heart to reflect Christ, who gave up everything for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.