We are called to be servants of the gospel (and Christ), this means we do everything in our power, in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, to lift up the gospel and to maintain the integrity of the gospel message. We are not to use it to exalt ourselves but as servants we serve and go underneath to hold it up and support it. This ...of course is a privilege and honour. It is not a necessity as God is not served by human hands but will exalt His own name on the earth! He doesn't need us! But what is amazing is that He calls us His friends who know His business (John 15). When your friends with someone you know what they are up to in a casual way there is NO PRESSURE to impress! In fact if your working for a friend you get "hook ups" If your friend is the manager of McDonalds and asks you to work for him you will probably be able to get more free food than the rest of the people and more flexible work schedule! Jesus is our friend. He shares with us what HE IS DOING and then lets us be a part of it and gives us privileges that would only be His in the Kingdom! (like the manager to the employee friend)
The sad thing is that today many people (even Christians) use the gospel to exalt themselves above the gospel (and therefore Christ since it is HIS gospel) and use it for selfish purposes such as influence, money and reputation.They step on others in the name of the gospel to make themselves look more righteous. This is a huge temptation for all believers! But a true servant will allow himself to be STEPPED ON for the sake of the gospel! We need to be like the sycamore tree that Zacchaeus stepped on to see Christ! Or Like John the Baptist having the attitude of being less to let the Bridegroom shine or even like Paul who considered himself a slave to the gospel. Christ says that He who wants to be great is to be a servant and first to be a slave of all (Mark 10:43-44)
When we read about the church in 1 Corinthians this is exactly what was going on! Believers were using the gospel and spiritual gifts to exalt themselves instead of Christ, using His name to build their Kingdom and there were many fights in the church! Paul rebukes them:
To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 1 Cor. 6:7
He is saying that it is better to let yourself be wronged for the sake of the gospel and the name of Christ because this was going on in HIS church the very place where there should be love! They were actually hindering the gospel NOT serving it!
