Today's chapter is another difficult one to write about. In it, Paul talks about his rights as an apostle. He almost goes out of his way to say he is fully entitled to all the perks of being an apostle, but he also denies that he needs him. To me, it is like he is trying to teach a lesson on getting caught up in titles. Many people thought he was an apostle in his time, but some disagreed that he was. In this chapter he tried to show that his title was not important. The important thing is that he followed his compulsion to preach regardless of the reward.
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. – 1Corinthians 9:12-14
A Christian walk is one of sacrifice. We know this because we are to follow Christ's example. His very life was a sacrifice so that we might be made Holy through His blood on the Cross. It is therefore our duty to spread that gospel regardless of the cost. How many martyrs have followed this example? Some are well known, while others passed their lives in quiet obscurity while simply serving the call.
This is an example that we must carry over to our own lives. Some are called to greater things and become great evangelists. In the eyes of God, however, they are no greater than the person that strives to bring just one person to Christ. I consider it the greatest honor of my life to have been used by god to reach my wife for Christ. That is just one person, but to me it gives my life purpose regardless of any reward I received for that work.
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