Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 9:15-18.
“But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:15-18.
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When the Apostle Paul states: “But I have used none of these things.”, he is stating that he has not used his right to get his living from the gospel as in “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:14.
“That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” Verse 18.
“and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.” Acts 18:3.
“and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;” 1 Corinthians 4:12.
Today’s devotion will focus on verse 17: “For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.”
“if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; … of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.” Ephesians 3:2 and 7.
God has given to each one of us a measure of grace and gifts to use for the building up of the body of Christ.
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. …
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;” Ephesians 4:7 and 11-12.
We are all stewards, and because of the stewardship entrusted to us by God, we are required to be trustworthy stewards.
“Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.
Let us remember the Parable of the Talents.
“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:14-30.
But, there is hope!
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 