Becoming All Things to All Men

 

What are you willing to do to see something happen that is important to you? I think of the game show “Let’s Make a Deal” where people are willing to dress up in ridiculous costumes in the anticipation that they would be selected to win a prize. Others are willing to do outlandish things to get noticed in the media. On the good side, people are sometimes willing to donate an organ to save the life of someone they have never met. This is the attitude that Paul is writing about in 1 Corinthians 9 in connection with the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These words build on the passion that Paul emphasizes earlier in the chapter. This is what he writes about becoming all things to all men: 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Paul is willing to do whatever it takes to see people saved by Jesus Christ. He is willing to break cultural norms, societal norms, whatever it takes to share the gospel with others. If you are a follower of Jesus are you willing to do that? Are you willing to go outside of your comfort zone for the sake of the gospel? These words of Paul are challenging to all of us. We are asked to see the importance of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and then to act on it.  Spend a minute in prayer, asking God to show you a person or situation where He might want you to “become all things to all men” in an attempt to share the gospel…then do it.