Note 2 at 1Co 9:17: These passages of Scripture could leave the impression that Paul didn't want to preach the Gospel. That certainly was not the case. Php 3:8 reveals that everything Paul lost through following Christ, he counted as dung in comparison to the excellence of knowing Christ. He loved serving the Lord. He voluntarily laid aside his own desire to be with the Lord and chose to remain here on earth for the furtherance of the Gospel (Php 1:23-26).

In Ro 1:11, Paul said that he longed to see the Roman Christians so that he could impart some spiritual gift unto them. That sounds like he was looking forward to ministering to them. Probably the greatest testimony of his love for the lost, which compelled him to preach (2Co 5:14), was his own wish to be accursed if that would bring salvation to the Jews (see note 3 at Ro 9:3). That says a lot.

This verse must be referring to the time before his encounter with the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. The Lord had been convicting Paul prior to that time, but Paul refused (see note 1 at 1Co 9:16). It must be this refusal to which he was referring. After his conversion, he willingly served the Lord, but Paul viewed his previous rejection of the Lord as such a serious offense that it disqualified him from a reward for proclaiming the Gospel (see note 3 at this verse).

Note 3 at 1Co 9:17: The Greek word that was translated "willingly" here is "HEKON," and it means "voluntary" (Strong's Concordance). Paul was declaring that the Lord only gives rewards for deeds done from a willing heart. To the Lord, our attitude is more important than our actions (see note 25 at Mt 6:1, note 26 at Mt 6:3, note 5 at Mt 23:12, note 8 at Mt 23:13, and note 21 at Mt 23:26). Regardless of the merit of a deed, rewards will be awarded only if done with the proper motive.

Concerning finances, Paul stressed the attitude behind the gift as all-important (1Co 13:3; 2Co 8:12, and 9:7). Many people lose the rewards for their giving because of wrong motives. Paul and Peter urged compliance with their instructions because of free will, instead of demanding obedience (Phm 14 and 1Pe 5:2). 1Co 13:1-3 shows that any action without the motivation of love profits nothing.

At one time, Paul had resisted professing Jesus as Christ and proclaiming His Gospel (see note 1 at 1Co 9:16 and note 2 at this verse), so he was saying he would not be rewarded for his efforts in that area (see note 2 at this verse, last sentence). That's why in 1Co 9:18 he said he chose not to receive personal offerings from the Corinthians (see note 5 at 1Co 9:6). Since Paul viewed himself as disqualified to be rewarded for preaching the Gospel, he voluntarily chose to support himself, instead of living from the offerings, so that he would get rewards for the way he financed his preaching of the Gospel.

Note 4 at 1Co 9:17: The English word "dispensation" is used four times in the King James Version (this verse; Eph 1:10, 3:2; and Col 1:25). It was translated from the Greek word "OIKONOMIA," and this Greek word means "administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) 'economy'" (Strong's Concordance). OIKONOMIA was only used seven times in the New Testament, and in Lu 16:2-4, it was translated "stewardship" three times, once in each verse. Very simply, Paul was saying that the Lord had entrusted him with the preaching of the Gospel.

Some Bible scholars have expanded upon the obvious meaning here and refer to dispensations as different periods of time in which the Lord dealt with mankind in different ways. Dake's Annotated Reference Bible lists seven major dispensations from the creation of man (Ge 1:26) to the 1,000-year reign of Christ (Re 20:4).

The first would be the dispensation of innocence, before the fall of man, where God related to sinless man. The second dispensation would be that of the conscience. This was from the fall of man to the time of Noah, when there were no direct laws of God but people acted from their consciences. Next was the dispensation of human government, from the days after the Flood until the time of Abraham.

The fourth dispensation was that of promise. This was from the promise made to Abraham until the giving of the Law. Fifth was the period of time when the Law was in effect (see note 1 at Lu 16:16). Sixth is the dispensation of grace, which is happening now and will continue throughout the church age. Last will be the Millennium, where we believers will reign with Christ here on earth for 1,000 years.