What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas]? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

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! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul takes examples from his own life, to drive home the lesson that Christians should curtail their own freedom if there is any risk it will damage others or lead them astray.

If anyone has rights, surely it is the apostle. Yet he has gladly given up his right to take a wife with him on his trips and his right to expect the church to provide his keep. There are more important things than rights. For the gospel's sake this 'free man' willingly;y subjects himself to restrictions laid on him by others in order to win people for Christ.

Why?

To be an apostle's right, Paul deserves to have, but Paul didn't use his right to get anything from churches or others, for he offer the gospel free of charge, so that not make full use of his rights as a preacher of the gospel.

No one like Paul devoted himself to preaching the gospel and make living in his own way and effort. 

Surely Paul has the right to do so like other apostles and other Christians, but Paul rather dies than allow anyone to deprive him.

How?

Learn the heart of Paul, devote himself to the Lord, and preach the gospel. For my life is living for the Lord, I am the servant of the Lord.