First Corinthians 9

Paul launches from his discussion of freedom into a tremendous argument on his value to the Corinthian community. He could demand payment for his services and preaching, but instead has sacrificed everything so that they might know the Gospel.

His reasoning: I preach the Gospel free of charge so that others will God's glory only. Again, Paul defines Christian freedom, and lives it, solely in terms of the preaching of the Gospel. He does not view it as a duty, because fulfilling a duty has its own reward. No, he views it as a trust and calling, and fulfilling those has an eternal reward. Beware: attitude and perespective mean a great deal in the Christian walk. How many Christians have used the Gospel for their own benefit, and have already received their reward on earth with no thought about eternal consequences? Have I done this? What would it take to change my heart and persepctive from temporal to eternal?

This chapter also contains some of the more memorable verses from Paul:

v. 22 I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

v. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

To me, v. 23 and 27 sum up Paul's thought on sacrificing for the Gospel, both of which highlight the proclamation of Jesus and the eternal prize that comes with it:

v. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

v. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Do you think that the "blessings" and "prize" are earthly or heavenly blessings?