“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.” (1 Corinthians 9:16–17, ESV)
“There is a story of an old missionary who was returning home from Africa. He was on the same ship with President Teddy Roosevelt who had been in Africa for a big game hunt. When the ship docked in New York, great crowds greeted the president, but the old missionary and his wife walked off the ship unnoticed.
“It just doesn’t seem right,” said the missionary to his wife in a rather bitter tone. “We give our lives in Africa to win souls to Christ, and when we arrive home, there’s no reward or anyone to meet us. The president shoots some animals and gets a royal welcome.” As they were praying before they went to bed, the missionary sensed that the Lord was saying to him, “Do you know why you haven’t received your reward yet? Because you’re not home.”
That’s what Paul had in mind in his spiritual service. He didn’t want to receive superficial or temporal acclaim. He was willing to wait until he went home—his ultimate home—to receive what God had promised him. Are you willing to wait?” (John MacArthur, Truth for Today, p. 36)
When you make a real commitment to God backed up by real work for God, a reward is in store for you. You haven’t earned this reward. It comes as a gift from the God who sent you. It comes from the Lord who redeemed you on the cross. Paul did not see his work for God as something to “boast” about. The scripture for today even quotes Paul as saying that if he preached the gospel, “that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me.” (1 Corinthians 9:15). Paul was CALLED to do this work. Paul dedicated his life to Jesus and in return, he received the call to preach the gospel to all the nations. Paul will not receive Heaven as his reward as a result of the hours he preached or the lives he saved. The scripture states clearly that Paul already had his reward. It came with his salvation. In response, Paul was “entrusted with a stewardship”. He was given a job to do, a mission, a work for God. His work out of love for Jesus was to spread the gospel to all the nations. What is the work God has set you apart to do?
I believe that each person who accepts Jesus as Lord also is given special tasks by God. God will supply the saved person with the ability to accomplish these special tasks by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). YOU are “entrusted with a stewardship” to complete these tasks for God (1 Corinthians 9:16). Do you even know what tasks God has planned for you to accomplish?
People who lack a commitment to Jesus often think that the tasks that Jesus wants of them are to give in the collection plate, attend church as often as possible, be baptized, and be a church member. These are NOT the main tasks given by Jesus! Jesus did not send the disciples out to do missionary work by commanding them to “Go join a church!” He urged Paul and Silas and Luke to go build churches, but church membership was never a missionary end for people. While the disciples and Jesus are recorded as praying and worshipping, there is no mention that the work they are to do it just to pray or just to worship. Praying and worshipping help support a person’s relationship with God. They also bless other faithful people. These are not the missionary work Jesus entrusted to His disciples.
As examples of the missionary work given to the disciples and apostles, we need only to study the New Testament. There, Jesus told His disciples in the gospels to fight evil (including evil spirits), share the good news of Christ, heal people, and more. He also encouraged them to teach others of the Bible and the Kingdom of God, giving them parables as examples. Jesus gave other examples to His disciples of how they should teach by offering up sermons like that found in Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ last words to the disciples at His ascension was for them to make disciples, preach, teach, and baptize (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus did not tell them to just go to church, be a church member, sing in the choir, or give their tithe. Their true work for Jesus involved a commitment to a personal calling.
I was leading a Bible Study at a nursing home. I don’t remember the scripture or the day or even the name of the nursing home now, but I remember the look of utter frustration on the face of a woman in attendance. After studying a Bible passage for half an hour, she raised her hand and said, “I’ve been a member of my church all my life. I thought I was saved and going to heaven because I was a church member. Right now, after studying scripture for a few months, I’m beginning to see that being a Christian involves a lot more than just being a church member. But I’m angry now. I’m in my 80’s and my life is almost over. I’m sad just thinking of all the things I could have done in Jesus’ name! I thought my membership and baptism were enough. It was wrong to think so!”
Paul mentioned in the scripture that he was “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus. It was a holy calling with holy works to do. Missionaries have their missions. Preachers preach. Teachers teach. What were you “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus to accomplish? How have you made disciples, healed others, fought evil, shared the gospel, and taught others about faith in Jesus? I hope this answer comes easy to you. It says a whole lot regarding your level of faith and commitment. It explains the reason Jesus gave you a reward for your acceptance of salvation.
“It just doesn’t seem right,” said the missionary to his wife in a rather bitter tone. “We give our lives in Africa to win souls to Christ, and when we arrive home, there’s no reward or anyone to meet us. The president shoots some animals and gets a royal welcome.” As they were praying before they went to bed, the missionary sensed that the Lord was saying to him, “Do you know why you haven’t received your reward yet? Because you’re not home.”
That’s what Paul had in mind in his spiritual service. He didn’t want to receive superficial or temporal acclaim. He was willing to wait until he went home—his ultimate home—to receive what God had promised him. Are you willing to wait?” (John MacArthur, Truth for Today, p. 36)
When you make a real commitment to God backed up by real work for God, a reward is in store for you. You haven’t earned this reward. It comes as a gift from the God who sent you. It comes from the Lord who redeemed you on the cross. Paul did not see his work for God as something to “boast” about. The scripture for today even quotes Paul as saying that if he preached the gospel, “that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me.” (1 Corinthians 9:15). Paul was CALLED to do this work. Paul dedicated his life to Jesus and in return, he received the call to preach the gospel to all the nations. Paul will not receive Heaven as his reward as a result of the hours he preached or the lives he saved. The scripture states clearly that Paul already had his reward. It came with his salvation. In response, Paul was “entrusted with a stewardship”. He was given a job to do, a mission, a work for God. His work out of love for Jesus was to spread the gospel to all the nations. What is the work God has set you apart to do?
I believe that each person who accepts Jesus as Lord also is given special tasks by God. God will supply the saved person with the ability to accomplish these special tasks by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). YOU are “entrusted with a stewardship” to complete these tasks for God (1 Corinthians 9:16). Do you even know what tasks God has planned for you to accomplish?
People who lack a commitment to Jesus often think that the tasks that Jesus wants of them are to give in the collection plate, attend church as often as possible, be baptized, and be a church member. These are NOT the main tasks given by Jesus! Jesus did not send the disciples out to do missionary work by commanding them to “Go join a church!” He urged Paul and Silas and Luke to go build churches, but church membership was never a missionary end for people. While the disciples and Jesus are recorded as praying and worshipping, there is no mention that the work they are to do it just to pray or just to worship. Praying and worshipping help support a person’s relationship with God. They also bless other faithful people. These are not the missionary work Jesus entrusted to His disciples.
As examples of the missionary work given to the disciples and apostles, we need only to study the New Testament. There, Jesus told His disciples in the gospels to fight evil (including evil spirits), share the good news of Christ, heal people, and more. He also encouraged them to teach others of the Bible and the Kingdom of God, giving them parables as examples. Jesus gave other examples to His disciples of how they should teach by offering up sermons like that found in Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ last words to the disciples at His ascension was for them to make disciples, preach, teach, and baptize (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus did not tell them to just go to church, be a church member, sing in the choir, or give their tithe. Their true work for Jesus involved a commitment to a personal calling.
I was leading a Bible Study at a nursing home. I don’t remember the scripture or the day or even the name of the nursing home now, but I remember the look of utter frustration on the face of a woman in attendance. After studying a Bible passage for half an hour, she raised her hand and said, “I’ve been a member of my church all my life. I thought I was saved and going to heaven because I was a church member. Right now, after studying scripture for a few months, I’m beginning to see that being a Christian involves a lot more than just being a church member. But I’m angry now. I’m in my 80’s and my life is almost over. I’m sad just thinking of all the things I could have done in Jesus’ name! I thought my membership and baptism were enough. It was wrong to think so!”
Paul mentioned in the scripture that he was “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus. It was a holy calling with holy works to do. Missionaries have their missions. Preachers preach. Teachers teach. What were you “entrusted with a stewardship” by Jesus to accomplish? How have you made disciples, healed others, fought evil, shared the gospel, and taught others about faith in Jesus? I hope this answer comes easy to you. It says a whole lot regarding your level of faith and commitment. It explains the reason Jesus gave you a reward for your acceptance of salvation.