OUR FATHER WHO MAKES PROVISION FOR HIS SERVANTS IN THE LAW

1 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 1 - 18 records the apostle Paulˋs defense of his spiritual authority over the church of Corinth.

He asserted his apostleship as being one who was operating under his own volition and that he had also directly seen the Lord Jesus Christ. He pointed to the existence of the Corinthian believers as the seal of his apostleship towards them.

Paul, in that authority, wrote to the Corinthians about the rights of apostles and the obligations that the churches had towards them in response to the questioning that was aimed at him regarding his methods and practices likely related to his unmarried status and employment.

1 Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the [a]seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?

8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?

Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Other apostles were full time ministers who made a living from the work in the ministry and travelled with their wives as they carried out their callings in the regions they were assigned to. Paul commended this model of ministry as a scripturally valid mode of operations using verses from the law that verified that it was proper to get financial support from those whom the minister served.

Paul however, worked a secular job to earn a living and remained unmarried so that he could serve in the midst of the Corinthians without imposing the burden of his upkeep on them and to those who questioned this pattern, he wrote  that he had volitionally forgone the right to require a living from the Corinthians so that the propagation of the gospel would have no impedance whatsoever from the liability of his sustenance.

He declared that he would rather die than give up the boast that he sustained himself while preaching the gospel and he made the case that because of his calling, preaching the gospel was a duty that he had to fulfill and as such, would get no special reward for fulfilling his duty and so he undertook to derive a reward from his work by doing so at his own expense.

Amen.

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OUR FATHERˋS VULNERABLE CHILDREN SHOULD BE LOVED AND SHIELDED FROM STUMBLING BY THEIR BROTHERS IN CHRIST

In 1 Corinthians chapter 8, the apostle Paul turns his attention to the questions posed to him about whether believer werre permitted to eat food offered to idols.

Because the church at Corinth was embedded in a pagan culture with pervasive idol worship, much of their contact with city life would include food that was offered up on alters of the idols of the city.

Paul explained that love needed to be the primary driver of moral dicisions rather than the statutory law and as such, when judging whether food offered to idols was permissible to eat, believers needed to understand that in the face of God, idols were nothing and so all functions and ceremonies pertaining to them were of no consequence to those who lived in Christ.

Here is where love becomes efficacious; Even though a brother was free to eat any food including that which was offered to idols, out of love for a fellow believer who was not confident in their faith regarding eating such food, the brother would refrain from eating such food so that the weaker brotherˋs conscience would not be defiled because they ate food with guilt. 

Out of love, a believer must be aware of those around them who may see him eating food offered to idols and be instigated to eat food offered to idols but without the prerequisite knowledge of their freedom in Christ and as a result, eat it and injure their consciences.

Paulˋs counsel on such matters is that all things are permissible in Christ but not all things are profitable and if a precious believer is injured by the liberties of a fellow believer, then it is a great loss and so therefore, believers should be willing to forgo their own liberties if their liberties would cause a weak believer to stumble.

1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.

4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.

7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER FOR WHOM WE SHOULD FORGO TEMPORAL THINGS IF WE CAN

1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 36 - 40 concludes the Apostle Paulˋs guidance on the subject of marriage by addressing two questions. 

First, if a man has an unmarried daughter who is of age, is he obligated to give her hand in marriage or should he prevent her from getting married. To this question, Paul says that the father is free to permit his daughter to marry and he is free not to but Paul suggests that it is better for the daughter not to be given in marriage. If the believing father, seeking fairness towards his daughter, judges that it is good for his daughter to marry, he can freely choose to allow it while if in his own judgement he feels that marriage would be bad for his daughter, he can decline to permit it and be under no compunction of law either way.

The second question pertains to the persistance of marriage after the death of a spouse. In this case, Paul clarifies that the remaining believing spouse is legally free to marry ( on the condition that the person they marry is also a believer.) Paul, speaking as one with the Spirit of God, again recommends the single life over the married life which he says would be a happier life than that of a married person.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER TO WHOM WE OWE OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 29 - 35 says this;

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

The apostle Paul, in explaining his position on avoiding marriage if possible, points out out that the time is short and that any incumberance on time will limit what is possible to do in the kingdom of God.

The demands of relationships distract from the prime directives that should be sustained in our minds and we finds ourselves sidetracked from the most important tasks that pertain to eternity.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CALLS  US TO ROLES IN HIS KINGDOM

In 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 17 -  28, the apostle Paul escalates the content of his letter by clarifying that the call of God on our lives is paramount to our histories and the circumstances of our lives.

As each believer is called to a unique walk in the kingdom of God, Paul adjures all believers to walk undettered.

If they were circumcised or uncircumcised when they believed, Paul tell believers that circumcision is nothing in light of the call of God and so they should not expend energy on changing their state. What matters is that they obey God and walk by His Spirit. If a person came to faith while a slave, they should worry that they are inferior or unusable by God. To be a slave of men makes a believer a freeman in God and his work as a slave is counted as unto God. If a person is free when  he came to faith, he becomes a slave of Christ and is duty bound to the commands of Christ. 

Paul adds that if a person can become free, they should make every attempt to be free and if they are free, they should not become the slaves of men. 

Paulˋs point is that all believers, as much as is possible, free themselves of obligations to the things of the world so that they can serve the Christ will all their being.

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

Along the lines of keeping themselves free, especially during a time of  political and economic pressures, Paul advises believers in Christ to stay in their freest state possible.  If they are single, they should remain single and if they arae married, they shoudl stay married to avoid the incumberences of separating.

Nevertheless, Paul acknowledges that there is no infraction of a man or a woman decides to marry and his only caution on the matter is that marriage complicates ones life especially during touch times.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER  WHO HATES DIVORCE

1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 10 - 16 records the strictures pertaining to marriage that the apostle Paul got from the Lord. 

First, Paul instructs believing women never to leave their husbands and believing men never to leave their wives. If this restriction on divorce could not be followed, he tells the Corinthians that it was prohibited for the departing spouse to marry another person. In fact, the only permissible pathway to remarriage was to remarry the peron they divorced in the first place.

In the case of the believer who had an unbelieving spouse, Paul prohibits the believing spouse from divorcing the unbelieving spouse and he stated that the unbelieving spouse was  sanctified by the believing spouse so that the  resulting children would be holy rather than unclean.  However, if the unbelieving spouse wished to leave the marriage, Paul advised the believing spouse to let them leave and they were not bound to the departed spouse and were therefore free to marry a believing spouse.

In letting an unbelieving spouse leave, Paul decribes the calling of God as one of peace and as such, releasing a departing spouse in peace is prescribed and fighting to try save the marriage is discouraged because if they were compelled to stay, there was not assurance that the unbelieving wife or husband would be saved.

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

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OUR FATHER WHO MADE MARRIAGE 

The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 7 verses 1 - 9, changes the subjects to address a question that the Corinthian church had asked of him regarding the proper structure of marriage.

Paul started by saying that ideally, men and women would stay chaste but he conceded that it was a tall order to require that they do so permanently and so, to avoid the unmarried and widows falling into immorality, the apostle Paul laid out the structure of marriage as one man and one woman and he outlined this economy of marriage to be one where the affections to each member of the marriage be rendered as a duty because in marriage, the body of each spouse belongs to the other person. ( A married person is joined in the flesh to their spouse and this intertwining is what causes the members of the marriage to own each otherˋs body.)

Paul recommended couples not to deprive each other of affection unless they did so by mutual consent for spiritual purposes and even so, for a limited time only to ensure that they did not fall to temptation due to the potential for lapses in self-control.

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Even though Paul endorsed the single life of celibacy that he practiced, he acknowleged that not everyone was gifted with that capacity and thus he balanced his teaching on marriage by telling unmarried people and widows that they could marry if they found that they had no self-control. 

Amen.

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