Can freedom exist all by itself? Paul uses his own example in this chapter to follow through on his call to the Corinthians to restrain the use of their freedom for the sake of others. There is no such thing as complete freedom. Complete freedom means that there is nothing of any gravitas, meaning or significance in your life to pull you in any direction.
Paul tries to help them see that he has all kinds of freedom that he doesn’t indulge. He has freedom to marry. He has freedom to eat and drink. He has freedom to receive the offering of the people of God to provide for his physical needs. Though he is free for such things, none of them have the kind of gravitas in his life to pull him towards them (9:15).
The true pull upon his life that has captured his affections is the opportunity to know Christ and transform lives through the preaching of the gospel. He gives us up the right to eat whatever he wants, to have a spouse, and even an offering because the pull of voluntary gospel ministry is so much greater than those things. There is nothing wrong with them and he does not condemn others who enjoy them. Yet, he longs for his Spiritual children to use their freedom to pursue much more glorious endeavors as he has—to follow him as he follows Christ (11:1).
In so doing, he submits to religious and social codes that the gospel has already freed him from (19-23) and disciplines his life so that not only will he pursue the greatest glory but he will pursue it with all his strength and energy (24-27). The question before us is what shall we do with our freedom? What shall we do with the extra 5-10 hours of our life each week? Does it count for Christ? The one who demands their complete freedom is aimless (9:26). What is your aim? Have you disciplined yourself to reach the target when you have opportunity?
Posted By Marc
Monday, October 20, 2008
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