Jesus personally chose and trained many apostles according to his divine purpose for them. Each had a different personality. Each had their own look and skill. Each had been given a different path as they fulfilled his command, “Be my witnesses throughout the whole world.” (Matthew 10:18; Mark 13:9; Luke 21:13, 24:48; Acts 1:8, 9:15, 13:46) Each made lifestyle choices as they glorified Jesus in obedience and submission and enjoyed his presence forever.
Apostle Paul, as he continued teaching the Corinthian believers the virtue of self-sacrifice, reveals the contrast between his lifestyle choices and those of the other apostles. Paul had told them that all the apostles were on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena, a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. (4:9) That the apostles shared by common choice. But not every choice was common.
Paul chose to remain single, while other apostles married (5). Paul chose to be self-sufficient, holding a tent making job, while the other apostles received a stipend from the church (4, 6). Both choices were right, good, and a blessing based on the individual’s circumstances, as Apostle Paul had revealed in previous chapters.
The important consideration is motive. What motivates me when I decide? Paul was free, an apostle, seen the Lord, and his ministry produced true spiritual fruit, the Corinthian church (1-2). Yet he used none of those for self-gratification. His motive was to please his Lord. (7:32)
