by Pastor Rich Carlson

With Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Corinth, he is writing a tough letter to a struggling group of believers, living in a very challenging situation, with a need for some pretty straight talk.

He talked about “rights" and not claiming them, feeling compelled to preach and doing it for free, being whatever to whomever so he might save some, and going into strict training for the eternal crown.

Paul had the “right” to be paid for what he did, and he proved it from Scripture. And then he did not take the money! I’m not advocating voluntarism from all our pastors, but this did cause me to stop and think about whether I serve God for the salary or out of gratitude. Would I serve Him better if I got paid more? Would I put in longer hours for Him if I got paid overtime? Or do I serve God with all my heart, regardless?

Paul felt so compelled to preach the gospel, and to do it for free, that he saw that as one of his highest callings—preaching the gospel for free. I’m still supportive of his quote in verse 14, “those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel,” but I know I have had my times when to live like Paul would be very inviting. It’s hard to be told, “Of course you’re a Christian, you get paid to be!” It has caused me, at times, to wish I had a job where I could be a Christian because I want to be, not because I am on the church’s payroll. I have settled it in my own heart and am comfortable with my decision to be a Christian, even if I get paid for it, but it has been a struggle.

Paul was free and “belonged to no man,” but he subjected himself to being or doing whatever it took so that some might be saved. Some time back I wrote in the margin of my Bible beside this text, “Do what you want, be what you want to be, go wherever you want to go, as long as it’s to win others to Christ.” That would be a pretty neat way to make decisions about life, don’t you think?

Paul was determined that what he said be consistent with what he lived. I might run hundreds of miles in training so I can finish a marathon, and when I finish running—it’s over. I get a t-shirt and a medal that no one ever sees again. If I would do that much to win so little, why wouldn’t I do the same or even more as I train myself to live the most successful Christian life possible.

It made sense to Paul as he wrote to the Corinthian believers. It makes sense to me. I hope it does to you, too.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.