Serving with Self-Denial

Spring 2025

Key text of 1 Corinthians 9: “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12). 

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you should! That’s the message of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9. It is the go-to chapter for every Christian when you must decide between what you may do and what you should do.

In chapter 9 the apostle followed on from the subject of abstaining from meats for the sake of the weak brother. That was the professing Christian who had a troubled conscience about eating meat that had been presented in the meat-market for idolatrous worship. The apostle exhorted that the “strong” Christian, the one who could discern that meat advertised for an idolatrous use was still just meat, should still deny himself of that meat for the sake of his weaker brother. It is Christian to be considerate of norms and values held by any community, by a family, or by an individual.

In this chapter, Paul firstly established his authority as an apostle. He had seen the living Lord Jesus Christ with his own eyes. God had blessed his ministry in the conversion of souls who formed the Corinthian church.

Paul could exercise this apostolic authority, but for the good of the church and the gospel he voluntarily suffered loss in a number of areas. Note the repeated questions about his own power, or authority, which he was free to use, but chose to forego, so that the gospel would not be hindered.

• In verse 4 he asked, “Have we not power to eat and to drink?” This was a rhetorical question with a positive answer, “Yes.” Paul had that authority, but he chose not to use it, lest the gospel be hindered.

• In verse 5 he asked, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife?” Again, this was rhetorical, and the answer was another, “Yes.” But Paul chose to remain unmarried due to the demands and dangers of gospel ministry in the first century.

• In verse 6 – 9 he asked, “Have we not power to forbear working?” Again the answer is, “Yes.” Paul used a number of examples to illustrate how gospel ministers have the right to receive practical support for their spiritual labours. A soldier should receive support while enlisted in the service of his country. A vineyard worker should enjoy some of fruit of the vine, and a shepherd who spent his days and nights caring for the sheep should partake of the milk of the flock. He cited the Old Testament practice of allowing the laboring ox to eat while it was treading out the corn. And the same applies to oxen ploughing and threshing. The farmer who cares for the oxen, will provide for them in their labor.

In all of these examples the apostle convincingly proved the case that ministers of the gospel should receive support for their spiritual labors. He concluded, “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live off the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

But Paul gave up his right to receive practical support as compensation for his gospel labors lest, in his case, the gospel should be hindered. Others had received support, but not the apostle Paul! He stated, “Nevertheless we have not used this power, but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthian 9:12).

Self-denial became Paul’s overriding principle of ministry. If anything might hinder the gospel, Paul would deny himself of it. To him, the testimony and advance of the gospel was all-important. He had received a commission from the Lord to preach the gospel and he wrote to the Corinthian church that, “It were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void” (1 Corinthians 9:15).

Like the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul did not seek to be ministered unto, but to minister. He had the heart and attitude of a servant toward all men, Jews, Gentiles and the weak—those professing Christians who had a sensitive spirit on various matters of conscience. This broad attitude toward all types of men led to his remarkable statement:

“To the weak became I as the weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Later in the chapter 9, Paul clinched his appeal to sacrificial Christian service by listing the hardships endured by athletes as they trained to run a race for an earthly crown, even a corruptible crown. His point was that Christians should willingly sacrifice for the Lord because they labor for an incorruptible crown.

The chapter closes with a picture of how the apostle disciplined himself spiritually in keeping with how an athlete kept himself fit to compete in the athletic games. He wrote, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…” (verse 27).

Paul saw himself as a spiritual athlete. He willingly sacrificed for Christ, submitting to anything that promoted the work of the gospel. What a model for us all in Christian service! This was the commitment of C.T. Studd, the renowned missionary to China, India, and Africa, who passionately stated:

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, there is no sacrifice too great for me to make for Him.”

If you believe this and, therefore, see it as God’s way to greater usefulness in the Lord’s work, then put it into practice in your service for the Master. Fall into line with Paul’s attitude in the Lord’s service, “For if I do this willingly, I have a reward…” (1 Corinthians 9:17). Keep your eye on the incorruptible crown that awaits all those who serve the Lord willingly with self-denial.