“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.” 1 Co 9:16–17
Since my childhood, I attended Zion with my parents. As I entered middle school, I began to study the Bible seriously. The words of the Bible, such as the parable of the fig tree and the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, were amazing and fascinating. I shared what I learned with my friends. One by one, the number of fruits increased. Zion members said to me,
“Brother, you have a good faith.”
“You have a talent for preaching and bearing fruit!”
Feeling proud, I thought,
‘It’s because I’ve understood the word of God well, taught others well, and preached diligently.’
I wanted to continue receiving compliments from the members.
However, for a period of time, some of my friends stopped attending church, and the Zion members were hurt because of my misbehavior. The things didn’t go as I expected, and I felt ashamed of myself. I couldn’t comprehend why this was happening to me.
While I was losing my passion for the gospel, I found this verse. Apostle Paul is a man of faith revered by Christians worldwide. He confessed that preaching the gospel was not a source of personal pride, but rather something he was compelled to do. Saying, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” On the other hand, I was doing the gospel for my own joy and glory at that time. I really felt sorry to God.
Afterward, I worked on correcting my arrogant attitude. When the members complimented me, I first gave glory to God and put in the effort to serve those who had served me. Above all, I gave thanks to God for even the smallest things. As the arrogance within me disappeared, my faith grew stronger, and my friends returned to Zion. The memories of that time remain a profound lesson for me as I continue walking the path of the gospel.
During our work for the gospel, we may become arrogant without recognizing it. We must always remember that, like Paul, we are merely doing what we are compelled to do, and the gospel work is the mission entrusted to us by God for our salvation. By maintaining this mindset, we can willingly engage in gospel work with humility.