Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Paul opens today in his letter to the church at Corinth with a reminder of his role in their lives.

Apparently, some people discredit him or refuse to view him as an apostle.

Some are saying he's not an apostle because he doesn't receive money from them.

But he says, the same authority that allows me the right to receive money from you

is the authority that allows me to deny money from you.

You're writing me a paycheck is not what makes me an apostle.

I'm an apostle because God appointed me, not you.

He goes on to list the other things apostles

have the right to do, including have their physical needs taken care of, get married, and make their

soul living and income through ministry. He argues that he has every right to receive support from

them, but that he has chosen to deny that right so that they can't second guess his motives,

but it seems to backfire on him. They're second-guessing him because he's denying their money. How ridiculous is it that he has to defend his right to not get paid? But essentially, he says, you didn't hire me so you can't fire me. I'm going to preach the gospel regardless. When we get to Second Corinthians, we'll find out more of what's happening behind the scenes

here, but in the meantime, he's restricting his own rights in order to preach the gospel

to more people without putting any kind of stumbling block in their way.

He becomes all things to all people, denying himself freedoms in order to meet them where

they are.

This idea of becoming all things to all people has been

wildly taken out of context. It isn't a path to abuse God's grace. Paul is restricting his freedoms,

not taking ungodly liberties with them. He's intentional about all these things, living a life

of discipline and purpose, because while all those things are temporary, the rewards of sharing

the gospel are

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