1 Corinthians 9:8-14 - A worker has the right to receive his wage

Paul began by citing the right to be financially support using three analogies. He said that even a soldier, a vine-grower and a shepherd, were all rewarded for their works. Therefore he too, as a minister of the Word, had the right to be financially supported by the church.     

 

He began in verse 8 by showing that what he said was not merely according to human judgment but that of the Law. He asserted that even the Law given by Moses referred to this matter about rewarding workers. He then proceeded to quote Deuteronomy 25:4 saying, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain.” Then he added that God said this to show His concern for human being and not the oxen. How is this so? A look at Deuteronomy and its surrounding verses would reveal that God was promoting dignity and justice for human being. Deuteronomy 25:4 set oddly in that context. Using the metaphor figuratively, Paul showed why they as apostles had every right to expect financial support. As the ox would not be restrained from eating the food that its labor was producing, this should also apply to the apostles.   

 

Paul asserted that the Scripture he had quoted applied to their situation. In fact he felt that their situation was akin to what the scripture had said. Paul argued that even workers, either the plowman or the thresher, would labor in the hope of having a share in the harvest. Therefore, it wouldn’t be too much if he and his associates, who had sowed spiritually into the Corinthians, should expect to be rewarded materially by them.

 

The Apostle Paul felt strongly that if anyone had the right to expect anything from the Corinthians, they, i.e. he and his ministry associates, could make a greater claim over them. But he did not exercise his rights. Why? He didn’t want it to be an interference to the Gospel. So he and his team endured and did not ask for financial support. Somehow, he believed that in asking for financial support they would create a barrier for the preaching of the Gospel. Hence he took no money.           

 

In verses 13-14 Paul reinforced with two more arguments that supported his right to receive support. The first was about the temple priests who had the right to share in the meat that was sacrificed. The second was the instruction given by the Lord Jesus himself. The Lord instructed that the proclaimers of the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel. This is exactly what Matthew 10:10 said, “…that a worker is worthy of his support.”

 

Paul did not preach the Gospel for personal gain. It wasn’t that he had no right to any support but he forgo his right in order to clear the way for the Gospel. Insisting on personal rights can become a stumbling block to the work that one is doing. In all works, let’s be mindful that we are ultimately serving the Lord. So our labor must reflect Christ’s Lordship. In ministry or in secular work, our real boss is the Lord. He will richly reward us.