哥林多前书第9章：放下！

 
GK611晨祷生命读经
19/08/2025
主讲: 陈炎明牧师


引言：养儿育女的体会！

拿起一切责任而承担，义无反顾的去爱。
儿女长大了，学会放下，放手让儿女自主成长···。

一、拿起与放下（林前9:1-6）

保罗真实信仰的生命，让他有使徒的身份、有在基督里的完全自由、作属灵父母生出许多福音儿女的明证等等。原本他可以拿出这些条件，命令大家要听从他、尊重他、给予他一切所需。但是谦卑的属灵领袖选择【放下】而非【拿起】。

许多人责任拿不起，面子放不下，做人很困难。然而属神的儿女要学会【拿起责任】，同时【放下期待】，明白是为主而活！自己无所求，神必有所给，一切都美好。

二、有权而放下（林前9:7-14）

主耶稣也说过“工人得工价是应当的“（路10:7）。这原则在旧约、新约都是一样。保罗举了许多例子加以说明。在哥林多信徒身上，保罗更是有权柄接受他们的供给。保罗大可展示这些权柄，叫人无言以答，然而保罗放弃这样做。反而显出了更大的属灵权柄。

这原则如果应用在我们教会的牧养关系上，就像小组长付代价牧养组员。当一起用餐的时候，组员出钱请组长吃饭是不是应当的？是的！但以我们个人的经历而言，我们很少让组员出钱，无论是我们牧养的人、我们辅导的对象、被培训的年轻人，尽管他们的收入与经济比我们强，只要我们付得起，我们有权力享受别人的供应，但是我们更常放下这样的权利。选择祝福别人。

三、为福音放下（林前9:15-18）

保罗一再强调，甘心为福音的缘故，放下一切个人所需，生活所求。他深知一切奖赏在于永恒的天家，如今只是在地上的受托管家。只要尽忠做完主人的托付。其他都是次要啊！

我们为什么要服务社区？劳师动众、劳民伤财、这是何苦呢？不要忘记我们蒙召的使命！我们是世上的光和盐，如果不是用爱心去关怀社区、服务人群，世人怎么知道神爱世人的救恩福音呢？因此，为了长远的福音见证，我们即使放下身段都要委身服事啊！

四、为得人放下（林前9:19-23）

放下身段，随遇而安，目的只有一个：得人灵魂。在什么人当中就做什么人！只要有机会传福音。这是保罗极大的福音使命，和为福音放下一切的使命。

早期的外国宣教士来到中国、来到南洋、离乡背井，学习我们的语言，融入我们的文化，努力想把自己“变成和我们一样”的人；目的就是为主得人。因此，才有了今天的教会和祝福啊！

五、自约而放下（林前9:24-27）

人有很多肉体私欲的“想要”！但是，保罗已经立定心志，一生只是专一为主。这就是伟大使徒的生命见证啊！我们本来就有自由要按个人的喜好去追求生活，但是为着主所为人预备的奖赏，我们放下肉体的欲望，选择自我约束；这是更美更有价值的人生啊！

总结：为主与舍己

像基督拿起救赎的使命：承担了上十字架的代罪与救赎。
放下对他人期待的起伏：信与不信所带来的安慰和伤感！
让我们立志说：“基督为我而死；我为基督而活！”




    

1 Corinthians 9: Let Go!  
GK611 Morning Devotion
19/08/2025
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev David Tan 

 Introduction: Reflections on Raising Children!   

When raising children, we take up every responsibility without hesitation, and love them wholeheartedly.

But when they grow up, we must learn to let go—releasing them to grow and mature independently…

I. Taking Up and Letting Go (1 Corinthians 9:1-6) 

Paul’s genuine faith in Christ gave him the identity of an apostle, complete freedom in Christ, and the evidence of being a spiritual parent who bore many children of the gospel. He could have used these credentials to command obedience, demand respect, and claim provision from others. Yet, as a humble spiritual leader, he chose to let go instead of taking up.

Many people struggle in life because they cannot take up responsibility, yet cannot let go of their pride. But God’s children must learn to take up responsibility while at the same time let go of expectations, knowing that we live for the Lord! When we have no personal desires, God will provide everything, and all will be well.

II. Having Authority Yet Letting Go (1 Corinthians 9:7-14)  

The Lord Jesus also said, “The worker deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7). This principle applies equally in the Old and New Testaments. Paul gave many examples to illustrate this. He had the right to accept provisions from the Corinthians, but he chose not to exercise that authority. Instead, he demonstrated greater spiritual authority by letting go of it.

If this principle is applied to our church’s shepherding relationships, it’s like a cell leader paying the price to shepherd cell members. When eating together, is it appropriate for cell members to pay for the cell leader’s meal? Yes! But from our personal experience, we rarely allow cell members to pay, whether they are those we shepherd, those we counsel, or young people being trained. Even though their income and financial circumstances may be better than ours, as long as we can afford it, we often choose to set aside such rights and instead bless others.

III. Letting Go for the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:15-18) 

Paul repeatedly emphasises that one should willingly let go all personal needs and desires for the sake of the gospel. He deeply understands that all rewards lie in the eternal heavenly home, and that we are merely stewards on earth. As long as we faithfully fulfil the master’s commission, everything else is secondary!

Why do we serve the community? Why go to such trouble, wasting resources and causing inconvenience? Do not forget our calling and mission! We are the light and salt of the world. If we do not care for the community and serve people with love, how will the world know the gospel of God’s salvation? Therefore, for the sake of the gospel’s long-term witness, even if it means laying down our pride, we must commit ourselves to serving!

IV. Letting Go to Win People (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)  

Humbling oneself and adapting to circumstances, with only one purpose: to win souls. Become like the people you are among! As long as there is an opportunity to preach the gospel. This was Paul’s great gospel mission and his mission to lay everything aside for the gospel.  

Think of the early foreign missionaries who came to China and Southeast Asia. They left their homelands, learned our languages, immersed themselves in our cultures, and tried hard to “become like us”—all for the sake of winning people for the Lord. Because of them, we now have churches and the blessings we enjoy today!

V. Letting Go through Self-Discipline (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) 

People have many fleshly desires and ‘wants’! However, Paul had made up his mind to devote his entire life solely to the Lord. This is the great apostle’s life testimony! We have the freedom to pursue life according to our personal preferences, but for the eternal reward the Lord has prepared for us, we let go of fleshly desires and choose self-discipline; this is a more beautiful and valuable life!

Conclusion: For the Lord and Self-Denial

Like Christ, who took up the mission of redemption: bearing the cross for our sins and salvation.
Letting Go of the Emotional Ups and Downs due to Expectation for Others: the comfort and sorrow brought by those who belief and unbelief!  
Let us resolve in our hearts: “Christ died for me; I will live for Christ!”