1 Corinthians 9:1

1 Corinthians 9:1 says, Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?  Paul here defends his apostleship.  There were those who were saying that since he had not physically walked with Christ that he wasn't truly an apostle.  Paul said he had indeed seen Jesus Christ in the only way that mattered and that was a spiritual encounter that changed his life. Verse two adds, If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.  Paul said that even if some questioned his apostleship, those that he had reached for Christ could not doubt his calling.  His meeting of Christ was spiritual instead of physical, but it was still just as real, evidenced by the change in his life.  We will never meet Jesus physically in this life, but we are no less saved than the disciples who walked and talked with Him.  We have power through the Holy Spirit that they did not truly experience until after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Verse three Paul continues, Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,  Paul did not run away from controversy in order to keep peace with those who would denounce his apostleship.  Verse states, Have we not power to eat and to drink?   Paul asked if he was not entitled to have his needs met by the church, by those believers he had led to a saving knowledge of Christ.  Those today who go and proclaim the message of Christ to the world should be able to do so freely without worry about meeting physical needs.  What more important calling is there?  Verse five adds, Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?  Paul asked if he should not have the same rights as other apostles, and that was to have a wife traveling with him and supported as well, as did other disciples, including Cephas, or Peter.  Verse six continues, Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?  Paul had been saying we, and here he names Barnabas as being included with Him.  Were they alone expected to work and support their own ministry?  Today, there are still people who feel that preachers should not be paid, that they should show their faith by relying on God alone.  These same people seldom feel that they should work for free to show their own reliance on God.  Even in the Old Testament, priests were provided for by the rest of the nation so they would be free to attend to the things of God.  Paul said Barnabas and he were just as worthy of such support as any apostle.  Verse seven, asks, Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?  Paul asked basically in what other profession were people expected to provide totally for themselves without any provisions from those they worked for.  Verse eight adds, Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?  Here, Paul backed up what he was saying with scripture.  We should always be able to support what we teach about God with the scriptures.  Verse nine continues, For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?  Even the ox was to be allowed to eat while it was working, but Paul said this teaching had an even greater meaning.  Verse ten says, Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.  Paul said that the teaching also applied to those who were proclaiming God's word.  They should not be cut off from having their material needs met.  If God cared for the oxen, how much more would He care for those spreading the gospel full time.  Verse eleven Paul adds, If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?  I believe that Paul was saying that since they had sown the gospel, the way to everlasting life among the people at Corinth, was having their physical needs met too much to ask.  Verse twelve continues, If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.  Here, Paul says that even though they had that right, they had not used it in order that the gospel might not be hindered.  The church today is still called to meet the needs of preachers and missionaries, and if they choose to provide for their own needs, it should be their choice.  We need to remember that God works through His people to accomplish His will.  Paul was not saying that apostles should become rich in material things as they proclaimed the gospel, but that they could expect their needs to be met by the church.