Being a Servant To All Men

I Corinthians 9:19–23
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For eighteen fruitful years, Dr. H.A. Ironside was pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago. When he got ready to take the offering, he would often say, “We ask God’s people to give generously. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, we do not ask you to give. We have a gift … More

Adaptability

The sole reward that Paul desired was to be able to preach “the gospel of Christ without charge.” Someone might ask the question, with all the freedom in the world open to him, why did the apostle Paul restrict himself so severely? The answer is “that I might gain the more.” (v. 19) In other words, his greatest interest was to preach the gospel and win men and women to Jesus Christ. He summarizes his guiding principle of being adaptable in these words, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (v. 22).

Of course, the apostle does not at all mean that he compromised the essentials of the Word of God, nor does he mean that he stooped to any evil deed. He was a Jew who had a great burden for his own people (Rom. 9:1-3), but also a special calling to minister to Gentiles (Eph 3:8). What Paul does mean is that whether dealing with men under the law (Jews) or without law (Gentiles) he adapted himself to their condition. He had the right to eat whatever pleased him, but he gave up that right so that he might win the Jews. At the same time, he respected the law but set the law aside so that he might reach the lost Gentiles (vv. 20-21).

Paul gives several important principles for ministry (vv. 22-23):

1. Find common ground with those you contact

2. Avoid a know-it-all attitude

3. Make others feel accepted

4. Be sensitive to the needs and concerns of others

5. Look for opportunities to tell them about Christ

Application

I must never compromise the gospel, but I want to be a person who is willing to change the way I do things in order to reach more people for Him.

I Corinthians 9:19-23 (English Standard Version)

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