As an apostle, Paul had certain rights. Not entitlements of men, but some God-given “ground rules” of which Paul could have legitimately availed himself. Oxen who tread out the grain should not be muzzled, but allowed to eat of that which they worked. The plowman should plow and the thresher should thresh with an expectation of sharing in the crop. “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1Cor. 9:8-10, 14). But Paul chose instead to keep his day job . . . even if he only had time to do it at night. He chose not to take a paycheck (or even a paycheque) for his ministry but instead sought to remain self-funding. How come? Because of Paul’s perspective on what God had asked him to do . . . a perspective I’d do well to emulate.

For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.   (1Corinthians 9:16-17 ESV)

Entrusted with a stewardship . . . that’s how Paul viewed his apostleship. The preaching of the gospel wasn’t his meal ticket . . . it was his calling . . . it was what God had enabled him to do . . . it is what God had told him he should do . . . “woe to me if I do not preach.” His ministry wasn’t a vocation, it was a precious trust . . . to be managed thoughtfully . . . to be administered effectively . . . to be dispensed carefully. Paul would “endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (9:12b). And if that meant making tents at night so he could preach during the day with no grounds for anyone to question if he was in it for what he could get out of it, that’s what he would do.

And there’s a principle here, I think, for all of God’s people . . . and, in particular, for this God’s people in this chair this morning.

Every believer is a “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Each redeemed child of God has “gifts that differ according to the grace given to us” that are to be used (Rom. 12:6). It seems to me I can either ignore these truths or somehow believe that they’re not true of me and do nothing . . . or I can say, “whatever” and half-heartedly “check the box” . . . or, I can view the calling and gifting of God I’ve been given as a stewardship . . . as a sacred trust.

I can count it an honor and privilege to serve Christ and to serve His body with whatever enabling He has trusted me with. I can manage and nurture the calling . . . I can faithfully dispense what was been given to me . . . I can do so with no thought of what’s in it for me, but solely because of the pleasure and glory it perhaps brings Him. I can be careful to manage all areas of my life so that no obstacle is tossed in the way of what God has graciously allowed me to do on His behalf. Rather than view the “kingdom tasks” God has asked of me as something to do in my free time, they can become the reason for why I work a day job . . . my service for the King, whatever it may be, can be the “ends” for which everything else becomes the “means.”

And it’s not about having an elevated sense of self or boasting in the importance of what I’ve been asked to do . . . “woe to me if I don’t do what God has asked me to do”. Rather, it’s about embracing a perspective on the high, and holy calling which is mine because He who called me, and tasked me, is high and holy. It’s about being faithful because He is faithful. It is about serving wholeheartedly because He was “all in” when He secured my salvation.

Entrusted with a stewardship . . . by the grace of God . . . for the glory of God . . . amen?