“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 9:17-18).

Look deeply at the willingness
that Paul is speaking of.  At all times
we are under compulsion to share the Gospel. 
Then, when we give our offerings also, the reward is in the increased
ability to share the Gospel.  This is not
a “jewel in your crown” economic exchange, but a new reality of the heavenly
stewardship.  Share as it has been shared
with you and in all things be equitable.

Lord, help me see that I do not need to be an economics expert, but
simply need to share with others as it has been shared with me.  Teach me that when I give from a new heart,
that heart grows and increases.  Lead me
out of myself and into You.  Guide me in
the eternal way that I would live into the truth You have revealed through the
Gospel.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way You
know I need to go.

Lord Jesus, the thing Paul spoke
of here You demonstrated with Your life. 
Guide me according to Your way that I may grow in the way of truth.  Lead me according to the Father’s will to see
that in You alone am I able to come into understanding.  Guide me now and always in the narrow way of
salvation that You have established. 
Help me see by Your grace the way to walk in my daily life.  Amen.

“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” (1 Corinthians 9:15-16).

Here you see clearly that Paul
is making a case for the principle rather that anything he is seeking be seen
for his material gain.  Pay attention
when one teaches a principle where they gain nothing for themselves.  Pay attention to what is right and
fitting.  The Lord will lead those who
are willing to abide in His truth.  The
Lord will teach those who are willing to learn. 
Be guided not by this world’s priorities, but by the truth of the Lord,

Help me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would not pass by the
opportunity to see things in a new way. 
I do not know all there is to know. 
You do.  By Your grace, open my
mind to see that in You is the only hope to navigate through this world.  Help me to be guided by Your goodness that I
may put into practice these things which You have shown me.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save
me.  That includes my attitudes and the
way and reason I do things.  Guide me, O
Lord, in the way You have established that I may now and always live into the
hope You give through grace.  Lead me now
and always in the narrow way of salvation and open my mind to listen, hear,
inwardly digest and obey.  You must be
the author and finisher of my faith, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of
the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from
the altar?  So also the Lord directed
those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1
Corinthians 9:13-14).

The church was new and workers
were not considered as workers.  Behind
this is an attitude of looking at things with a view of stewardship.  The worker is worthy of wages, not only in
the church, but everywhere.  A server
lives on tips.  Do you tip well?  Behind all of this is an attitude of the
heart that either looks for advantages, or else seeks for being equitable.  Look into your heart.

Lord, where I am miserly, create in me a charitable heart.  Where I am indifferent, create in me a
compassionate heart.  In all things,
create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me that I may become
like Jesus.  Guide me according to Your
goodness to see that only in the way of salvation can I become what You have
always intended.  Lead me according to
Your goodness to see the truth and follow You in all things.

Lord Jesus, You are not only the model of the godly life, You have also
provided the way for me to become like You. 
Guide me in my meditations that I may humbly follow where You lead and
do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. 
Help me now and always remain on the narrow and good path that You have
placed me upon that I may abide in You and You in me now and forever.  Amen.

“If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap
material things from you?  If others
share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this
right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel
of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:11-12).

Where is the value in what you
receive?  Is it just in the material
things of this world?  Is it not more so in
the greater portion of the eternal life given by grace?  What value can you place on all that has been
given you?  Is the one who gives you the
good news of any less value that your investment advisor who grows your
portfolio?  Why do you value the temporal
and think nothing of the eternal?

Lord, help me to learn heavenly priorities.  Not out of guilt, but out of a true sense of value for these things.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would neither cling to what is material, nor become like one in a fantasy about heavenly things.  Keep me grounded and in the truth.  Let me not hinder the Gospel, but instead embrace it with the whole of my being.  Guide me in Your truth.

Lord Jesus, there are many things You have taught us that we may have balance in life.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may become one who is balanced in all things.  Guide me to see that in You alone is all hope and that what You give is of more value than the greatest thing of value I can think of.  Help me understand what it means to seek the pearl of great price and to not cast it before swine’s feet.  Amen

“For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox
while he is threshing.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He
speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the
plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing
the crops” (1 Corinthians 9:9-10).

Continue in hope. The world will
go the way the world will go. The generations will come and go until the final
day. Live in the hope you have been given through the salvation which is yours
in Christ. Know that in Him you have the eternal hope of salvation. Know that
all things must come to pass according to the will of the Father. So continue
in the hope that you have been given.

Lord, teach me not to be tossed about by the winds of this age. Things
come and bad things happen and I am told this must mean something. Let me
instead focus upon the life You have given me that I may abide in You and You
in me, learning to become like Christ. Help me through those times where I feel
the pressure of this world to hold fast to the hope You have already given.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us to
not be anxious for tomorrow. Teach me to live this day You have given me that I
may do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Guide me according to Your
never-failing principles to simply live the life You have given and live into
the life You give by grace. Guide me, O Lord, in the everlasting way of truth
that I may humbly abide in You. Amen.

Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a
vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not
use the milk of the flock? I am not speaking these things according to human
judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?” (1 Corinthians
9:7-8)

There is equatability that we
ought, at times expect. The worker is due his wages. But there are times when
we think others ought to do just because we think they ought to do it. Jesus
died for our sins, but that does not mean we ought to treat forgiveness as
something free and of little worth. Measure in your mind your attitude and seek
to be equitable as you desire for yourself due compensations.

Lord, teach me the balance in life that You have put into place. Guide
me to see that what I expect of others should be no more nor less than I would
expect of myself in similar circumstances. Help me to see that only in You am I
able to do these things. Lead me in the way that is not right in my eyes, but
in Your eyes. Help me to truly become like Jesus.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is
needed. You know where I fall short. Guide me, O Lord, that I may now and
always learn from You how to treat others as I want to be treated. Teach me
true honesty that I would treat all others with respect. Guide me according to
all things that are pleasing in the Father’s sight. May I continue to learn to
be like You at all times and in all circumstances. Amen.

“Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the
rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only
Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?” (1 Corinthians 9:5-6)

We each have the
responsibilities and obligations that we have, each according to the call the
Lord has given. There has always been this sense that it must be this way or
that and if something does not align with our sensibilities, we think it
therefor ought to be different. Be guided by the way of the Lord and not by
what you think it ought to be in your mind, and in all things with grace.

Lord, teach me the way of grace. I do have my ideas and want things to
be conformed according to the way I think these things ought to be. Lead me O
Lord that I may not be guided by what seems right in my mind, but by what is
pleasing in Your sight. Teach me the difference where there is conflict. May I
be guided by Your eternal principles and what is according to Your will.

Lord Jesus, You taught us to continually go to the Father in prayer. Help me to become one who prays without ceasing. Help me to be guided by the eternal truth You have revealed for all. In Your example, guide me to live with charity for others and a strong conviction where I am doing what You have asked me to do. Through all things, help me to always have grace for others as You have given grace to me. Amen.

“My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we not have a right to
eat and drink?” (1 Corinthians 9:3-4).

Humanity is critical. We
criticize one another over all kinds of things. Does not each person have the
right to certain things? This is an age old question that begins with the
simple premise that if you feel you ought to have it, then so should your
neighbor. Come then and see that all are created in God’s image and have a right
to access the grace that is given for all. To each is given according to the
grace given.

Lord, let me not stop and think only in terms of this time and place,
but in terms of the eternal truth which You have given to all. Guide me in the
way of truth that I may now and always abide in the love You have given to all
knowing that only in You will we find peace and equity. Lead me in the way of
truth and understanding that I may abide in Your eternal presence.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we
may have life and have it abundantly. Guide me, O Lord, in the way You have
established that I may learn how to obey all that You have commanded. Help me
to always see that only in the salvation You provide will I be guided by those
principles which are eternal. Help me give grace as I have received it, knowing
that in You alone is all hope. Amen.

“Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?
Are you not my work in the Lord? If to others I am not an apostle, at least I
am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord” (1 Corinthians
9:1-2).

Has not the Lord chosen one who
was used to speak to you? If you will not listen to them, why do you say you
will listen to the Lord? Pride is what brought down Lucifer. Pride will bring
down every person who lifts themselves up. Why do you cling to that which
destroys when the Gospel of life is given you that You may have an abundant
life? Cling to the Lord, not your pride.

Lord, I am free in you. Not free from the circumstances in this age, but free from sin, death and the devil. Help me to live in this freedom by teaching me how to live in liberty by being responsible where I am able. Guide me in the eternal way that I would flee from all immoralities and seek what is best for others and myself according to Your Word. Lead me in the way of salvation.Jesus, Your name means salvation. You have come to lead the way for as many as would follow You. Lead me now and always in the way of truth that I would not flee from You, but from all others that would tempt me to go astray. Help me now and always to see that in You alone is the hope for all ages. You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly. Help me to live the abundant life that You give. Amen.

“For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for
whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding
their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food
causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not
cause my brother to stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:11-12).

The place for the knowledge we
gain is maturity not superiority. Many fall into the temptation of pride and so
destroy the possibility of their brother or sister living a life of faith. One
who becomes like Christ has compassion for all. Christ did not demonstrate
superiority, but compassion, and reached out to all. We ought to do the same. What
is it you give up when you give up for another?

 Lord, teach me that this world is fleeting and the things I know are gifts from You. Guide me in a way of life that does not look at things for gain, but looks at things as a part of the whole of Your creation. When it comes to others, grant that I would learn compassion and mercy. Help me to see in others that which others saw in me to give me the opportunity to know You.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us how
to have compassion for those around us. You have shown me mercy and grace and
have taught me to do likewise. Guide me, Lord. this day to see differently
where I have been crass or uncaring. Grant me the ability to focus upon the
better portion knowing that only in You is there hope and a future. Let me share
the same with others. Amen.