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More I Corinthians commentaries

I Corinthians 6:1-11
Don’t Sue the Brethren

I Corinthians 6:12-20
Stay Sexually Pure

I Corinthians 7:1-11
Counsel for Christians married to Christians

I Corinthians 7:12-24
Counsel for Christians married to non-Christians

I Corinthians 7:25-40
Counsel for the Christians who are not married

I Corinthians 8:1-6
Love Is More Important than Knowledge

I Corinthians 8:7-13
Be sensitive to conscience

I Corinthians 9:1-10
The Pattern of Self-Denial

I Corinthians 9:11-18
Paul Surrenders His Rights

I Corinthians 9:19-23
Being a Servant To All Men

I Corinthians 9:24-27
Dealing with Christian liberty

I Corinthians 10:1-5
The Dangers of Overconfidence

I Corinthians 10:6-13
God Will Help You Resist Temptation

I Corinthians 10:14-22
Eating Meat Offered to Idols

I Corinthians 10:23-33
Principles that Govern Christian Liberty

I Corinthians 11:1-16
Head Covering in the Church

I Corinthians 11:17-22
Conduct surrounding the Love Feasts

I Corinthians 11:23-34
Conduct surrounding the Lord’s Supper

I Corinthians 12:1-11
Speaking Various Languages

I Corinthians 12:12-26
Spiritual Gifts that Unite

I Corinthians 12:27-31
God Assigns Spiritual Gifts

Paul Surrenders His Rights

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I Corinthians 9:11–18
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

At the busy dental office where I work, one patient was always late. Once when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, “I’ll be about 15 minutes late. That won’t be a problem, will it?” “No,” I told him. “We just won’t have time to give you an anesth … More

Motives

Different people serve God for different reasons. We know that there are definitely some motives that people have for serving God that are unacceptable. Jesus made it clear that striving for position and popularity are unacceptable motives for ministry. Greed is also an unacceptable motive for serving God, “not greedy for money, but eager to serve”. The question is, what are acceptable motives for serving our Lord? Paul gives us three levels of motivation for serving the Lord (vv. 16-17). Not all levels are equal as being acceptable before God but each is legitimate according to Paul.

  1. Fear of disobedience (v. 16) - Paul says that there are no grounds for boasting in the fact that he is a preacher of the gospel. His preaching came about not because of his choice initially but he says, “necessity is laid upon me”. Here he is obviously speaking of God’s call upon his life on the road to Damascus. Fear is the lowest level of motivation, but we should tremble at the thought of disobeying God’s voice.
  2. A sense of duty (v. 17) - There is something to be said for duty. While this is not the highest motive, and the most desirable motive for service to Christ, it is an acceptable motive. Sometimes it’s simply our duty to God that keeps us going when we don’t feel like it. Jesus dreaded the cross in Gethsemane, but he remained loyal to the Father and submitted His human will to that of the Father. Remember he “endured” the cross. Sometimes we too must “endure” when serving simply because God has entrusted us with a responsibility.
  3. Willing service (v. 17) - This is the highest and holiest motive for serving our Saviour. Paul said, “If I do this thing willingly, I have a reward.” To serve God willingly is to serve Him because we love Him. Those who serve in this manner have been so touched and moved by the Love of God that their will is meshed with His.

Application

It is my desire to serve the Lord with His Spirit of Love and with the highest of motives. But may I not forget the other two motives of fear of disobedience and sense of duty when love fails.

I Corinthians 9:11-18 (English Standard Version)

If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 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. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »

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