“What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”
1 Cor. 9.18
Discussion
Power is usually used synonymously with authority. So when the apostle Paul uses the word power here, it carries the idea of authority to enjoy certain privileges. 1Cor.9.17-18; " If I were doing this of my own free will, then I would deserve payment. But God has chosen me and given me this sacred trust, and I have no choice.What then is my pay? It is the satisfaction I get from preaching the Good News without expense to anyone, never demanding my rights as a preacher."NLT. The one who preaches the gospel has the God ordained right to receive financial and material support. However, you'll notice that this authority/right can be abused. This is the situation we have found ourselves today. Certain strange fellows charging money for consultations and prayers. Merchants of the gospel who have turned the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into a money generating venture. These have become spots, wrinkles and blemishes in the assembly of saints; shameless wolves disguised as sheep. Their end is near! (Jude1:11-18).
The authority given to us as ministers of the gospel demands that we carry out our responsibilities without charge. So, although 1Cor.9:14 says; "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." ..and Gal.6:6; "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."...but 1Cor.9.15 says; "Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my distinction of preaching without charge."NLT.
So you see that this privilege given to ministers isn't for taking advantage of the sheep, nor is it for lording it over the Lord's people. Therefore, dear man of God etc., if you are charging the people for preaching to them or for praying for them or counselling them...with all due respect...you're a fraud and it's time to repent. Nothing has caused more harm to the body of Christ and gotten us to go off divinely prescribed trajectory than the deceitfulness of riches. Jesus warned us about this in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13) but it seems we haven't heeded his warning very much. Dear saint, stop encouraging such tomfoolery. Your desperation for solution to your problems at any cost is the reason for the multiplication of gospel merchants in our day; buying and selling God's gift for profit. This is an abuse of power. It's wrong and has got to stop.
Amen!
Meditation
Read — 1 Tim. 6.5 - AMP