1 Corinthians 9:15-16
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
Paul’s call to preach the gospel was so overwhelming and compelling in his life that nothing except death itself could stop him. To me, that is very challenging. I have to look deep within myself to ask the same question: How compelling is God’s call in my life? There have been times in the near past where I have struggled because of a limited platform to pastor. But then I get to thinking about Paul’s situation. He did not need a pulpit on Sunday morning to preach. He did it out in the market places of cities like Corinth. What did he do when he was in prison? He preached to the guards. His concept of preaching was sharing the significance of what Jesus had done for him. At times, he could get complex and deep, evidenced in some speeches in Acts as well as letters like Romans. But at those points, he was working out the ramifications of his life in Christ and contextualizing this to the needs of the setting.
I wonder if we make “preaching” too complex. Those who preach on a regular basis feel an overwhelming obligation to prepare fancy sermons with catchy phrases, profound thoughts, or memorable illustrations. There is a place for good structure and deliver of a sermon. But proclaiming the goos news is not bound by a 30 minutes sermon. Paul shows that it was his lifestyle. He shared the gospel as a way of life. Life itself was caught up in sharing the good news. He would preach without pay, without honor, and without a pulpit. I need God to reignite the call in my life and help me develop the deep motivation that Paul showed.
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