Paul’s Work as a Missionary
March 18, 2020
Commentary
Before Paul plunges into an account of his own missionary philosophy, he tactfully congratulates his brethren in Rome on their accomplishments (v. 14). He also acknowledges how they are able to admonish one another. Few, if any, can speak with such authority about world missions as the Apostle Paul. In this passage he gives a brief view of missions:
1. Underlying responsibility to the opportunities (vv. 15-16). Personal accountability for one’s own gifts and the opportunities given to him is first and foremost to every Christian.
2. Undeniable limits to personal abilities (vv. 17-18). Not a glorying in self, but in the Lord, for all that is accomplished.
As Paul closes out his letter, he discusses the characteristics of his mission’s ministry to the Gentiles:
1. Confidence in People (vv. 14-15).
2. Centered in the Gospel (v. 16).
3. Accomplished for God’s glory (v. 17).
4. Accomplished by God’s Power (vv. 18-19).
5. With Complete Dependence on God (v. 19).
Application
I am not to glory in what I have done as a missionary but in what God has done through me. I also need to be as proud of what He is doing through other people as of what He is doing through me.
Romans 15:14– 19 (NET)
14 But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. 15 But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
17 So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Illustration: More Spent on Pet Food in 52 Days Than Missions For 1 Year
Americans give $700 million per year to mission agencies. However, they pay as much for pet food every 52 days. A person must overeat by at least $1.50 worth of food per month to maintain one excess pound of flesh. Yet $1.50 per month is more than what 90 percent of all Christians in America give to missions. If the average missions’ supporter is only five pounds overweight, this means he spends (to his own hurt) at least five times as much as he gives for missions. If he were to choose simple food (as well as not overeat), he could give ten times as much as he does to missions and not modify his standard of living in any other way! (Ralph Winter in Leadership IV, p. 64)