Godly Restraint

Acts 14:14-15

Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

1 Corinthians 9 opens with Paul the apostle and free; so is he seen of Christ and the church, his work. Even if he apostled no others yet would these prove his calling. For this cause he also feels the local church are but sons to him; once he first preached to them the gospel laboring along beside. Thus, God has given unto them power to not only work but also to eat, drink, and lead them to himself. Now we know the worker of the gospel is well worth the wages paid. So also, will such workers be repaid. Whether from the fruit of the work itself or from the Lord himself it will be so. For does not God pay his own cattle creatures better just for saying 'moo.' Now I know Paul and Barnabas are neither cattle, beasts, nor yet gods. But somehow has this offering unto them been arranged by some strange means of payment for what they have done in service to God. We know that both the sower and the thresher will reap in hope. For has not spiritual seed been sown by the apostles. I can see the situation now. They have taught and ministered, preaching Jesus unto the people daily with them in all things. But now these people would like to sacrifice to them calling them; these same men call the apostles gods with a lot of other nonsense mixed therein. So, these apostles do the thing tradition demanded as most logical whenever something particularly distressing occurred. They tore their clothes, running up and down the street. They likely were half naked, if not almost so, and shouting. Those familiar with the Greek myths ought at least to find this a little funny. Mercurius and Jupiter were already nearly naked to begin with being clad in the barest of cloaks; yet they commanded utmost respect and worship among these pagan people. So, it is little wonder that Mr. 'By all means to save some' ran up and down shouting a naked Jesus saves.

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Well might the question be asked, 'why do you do these things indeed.' Not to be funny, for the situation itself is deadly serious. But these crowds have just proclaimed that the gods came down in the forms of men. Now, these apostles are fixing to preach Jesus unto them. But if I was a god just coming down, I too might be inclined to utter strong speech indeed. My, 'what nonsense is this; I too am created flesh and blood, yet you are telling me I made everything even myself.' Here the early church is reaping carnal rewards. Some of you might be tempted to say, 'what happened.' When carnality is sown, do we not often reap the rewards of such. But now you also know this; sometimes our rewards for spiritual matters are also those of carnal things. I am sure the gods have needs just as mere men do. We certainly know the workers for the Lord have these needs; yet most control themselves as did Paul for the sake of the gospel. In any case, such rewards are a blessing for the apostles and a testimony against the early church. Nor will the apostles misuse the power thereof lest they also hinder the gospel. So also, the ministers of the temple live by the things thereof and likewise by those of the altar. If you preach the gospel, will you not also live thereby. Now Paul seems as a servant of all to likewise gain more. But lest you think Paul to be exceedingly greedy, as some of you do, know his calling was even to the lost of the house. So, he turns to the Jew, the Gentile, the poor, and the weak that by all means he might somehow save some. Thus, does he to partake of the gospel and the grace of the church. Paul undertakes much and charges not for his message borne. Yet he lives thereby to keep his portion committed him by Christ. For this cause, he behaves as a body under subjection as if in a race. He has but one objective: to win the crown of life, a sure and certain prize.