Kevin Reilly – Gdańsk, Poland

In 1 Corinthians chapter 9, Paul is stirring the church community to give into his mission and the ministry of the gospel: Is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? (v6-7). It’s a compelling read and, to be honest, you’d expect anyone hearing these well-argued points in v 1- 14 to head straight out to the cash-point! And yet (rather bizarrely) having successfully argued his case, he goes on to say: But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting (v15).

Paul explains himself – he is happy to provoke this church to faith and obedience, whilst at the same time he’s insisting that he is not becoming personally dependent upon their gifts. His personal calling is to the preaching of the gospel: I do it all for the sake of the gospel…(23) in fact: Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (v16) – and this he will do, whatever the circumstances financially.

By the end of the chapter, Paul’s thinking has turned to his own calling and life of obedience and personal faith in Christ:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Cor 9:24-27)

Yesterday I watched the women’s Olympic cycle sprint race in the Paris Velodrome. The UK team – Katy Marchant, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell – set a new world record and took the gold: We smashed it, and I know how hard we’ve worked back home. All those tears we’ve cried, all those moments our legs have been hurting. It’s all been worth it! (Emma Finucane)

Paul would agree – it’s all been worth it! All the sacrifices, all the training and hardship, it’s all been worth it! I run as to win. I train and exercise self-control and restraint in all things in order to finish my race. I do not run to participate – I run to win! I do not fight to put on a show – I fight to receive a prize!

As the athletics imagery unfolds in v 24-27, it becomes clear that Paul is not only writing these things for the church – he becomes the object of the teaching; lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified (27), his final phrase of the chapter! As he encourages the church to shoulder their responsibility to participate financially in the support of his ministry, so he provokes himself more greatly to living a godly and faithful life. Whatever the circumstances, he intends to continue running for the prize, exercising self-control, disciplining his body and fighting on.

We have developed a bit of saying here, in recent years – We don’t preach the gospel by proxy! In other words, I am not living out my calling on the basis of someone else’s enthusiasm, conviction or faith. I must operate from the resources that Christ has placed within me – for the work that he’s called me to. Too many Christians get swept along by the enthusiasm of the collective call. Paul doesn’t. He is an apostle, called to preach to the gentiles and therefore woe to him if he does not preach!

And so a few thoughts from this passage and from our own experience, here in Gdansk:

• we are to know what Christ has particularly called us to, and live wholeheartedly in this direction;
• let’s embrace discipline and training, that we might be fruitful in our callings;
• let’s not allow our resources to define us – Paul didn’t and neither did Jesus;
• we are part of a body (for sure) but we have a specific calling and a particular part to play – so let’s play it;
• we cannot delegate our calling to others – whatever others may be doing, let’s run (and finish) the race to which we’re called;
• whatever our calling, let personal godliness and growth remain a focus for us – we began our race in this way, when we were first saved and so let’s continue in it as Paul does – I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.(the last sentence of the passage; Paul making his his final word a personal one);

Paul expects personal freedom in the gospel to empower him for service: For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them (v19). However, a choice to not live an overly dependent life does not lead Paul off into rampant independence! Rather his freedom in the gospel directs him to service – becoming a servant to the very people whose reluctance to serve and participate, is evident in this chapter. A robust and rugged faith in Christ alone will always direct us towards towels, water-bowls and blistered feet, that we might win more of them – winning believers to greater faith and freedom and unbelievers to saving-faith in Christ.

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I’d like to finish this final article with the tremendous news that last Sunday, we baptised Piotr & Blanka, a couple in our church who we have been praying for, serving, loving and sharing Jesus with for a number of years – before they were even a couple, in fact! It was such a joy for us to be able to baptise dear friends and to hear their incredible testimonies of God’s love and intervention in their lives. And in particular, it was a significant moment for Pawel (Piotr’s brother, who has been with us for many years) to be able to participate in the baptism of his brother.

…and so we have won more of them…what a joy!