Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 9:3–6
God had Paul continue to declare his rights as an apostle. We read in 1 Corinthians 9:3–6, “My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink? 5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?” God had Paul ask, “Do we not have a right to eat and drink?” Paul was not asking if he had a right to eat and drink, but rather, as an apostle, should not the church take care of him by providing him with food and drink? Then, God had Paul ask in verse 4 if he also did not have a right to bring along a believing wife like the rest of the apostles. God used Paul to challenge the Christians in Corinth, reminding them that as an apostle, he had the right to expect support not only for himself but also for his family. God had Paul use the other apostles as examples, stating that most of them were married and their wives accompanied them as they conducted ministry. God used Paul and Barnabas to reach the Gentiles with the gospel, so they chose to work to support themselves so no one could accuse them of preaching for monetary gain. (See also 1 Thessalonians 2:9.) God called each church to take care of their shepherds/pastors, but the church at Corinth struggled with this.
Challenge & Application
What did you learn about the church’s responsibility to care for its shepherds/pastors?
Why did the church at Corinth struggle to take care of its shepherds/pastors?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!