“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9:19 NLT
How committed does one have to be to write something like this? In one moment, one episode of loving confrontation, Jesus asked Paul – WHY?
In his arrogance, in his religious fervor, in his laser-focused ideology, Paul was persecuting Jesus! In Paul’s infamous timeout, Jesus blinds him so that he might see! At 30 years old Paul had a midlife crisis of faith, figuring out that he had been on the wrong team. Then at 50, Paul writes this most humbling statement, focusing on who he had become and the most powerful, effective way to share the gospel of Christ – becoming less not more. To place himself under others, not over them.
To the Jews, he came under the Law. To the Gentiles, he came under grace. To those broken and weak, he also became weak. Paul was imprisoned three times, officially, but likely even more that were not noted in scripture. Paul lived the second half of his life totally opposite of the first half.
He concludes with why he would live this way. Paul writes, “I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (vs 22-23). Isn’t that how we should be living our life as well? Paul isn’t saying to live like a religious snob to reach those enslaved to legalism. And he doesn’t promote living like a degenerate to reach those with no morality. He finds what we share in common as a human – we are all flawed! It was exactly that posture that allowed him to speak into the lives of the religious, the common, and the Roman rulers.
For us, who still read these words inspired by the Holy Spirit and given to the churches in Corinth, we can learn a major lesson that Jesus himself taught, “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.” (Matthew 20:26-27). Paul didn’t just learn Jesus’ words… he lived them!
Prayer
Dad,
The more time I spend in your Word, the more I am convinced that I know far more scriptures than I am willing to put into practice. Like this one, where Paul demonstrated humility to the most image conscious church at that time! Help me, help us O Lord be doers of your Word, not just hearers. Help us live low lives so that your gospel would be powerful in its presentation.