Why we do, what we do – 1 Corinthians 9: 19 – 27
19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.
Yesterday, one of our members approached me and told how difficult is was to understand 1 Corinthians 9. Even though that member read the wrong Bible passage, I was so thankful to our members. Thank you for reading along with us.
However, this chapter is hard to understand, unless you understand the point Paul is trying to make. Paul is saying that he will do anything to convey the Gospel.
If we read the whole chapter, we see how Paul is a free man, both physically and spiritually. However, he says that he willingly gave up his freedom, and became a servant of the Gospel.
“But we’re not going to start demanding now what we’ve always had a perfect right to. Our decision all along has been to put up with anything rather than to get in the way or detract from the Message of Christ” 1 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)
v. 19 – 23 Paul says that he will embrace everyone from different backgrounds. Even though he is free and not subject to anyone, he claims that he will be subject to everyone for the sake of the Gospel.
He then says that he is like a runner to get the prize, which means set for the goal. Fixated on the goal of sharing the Gospel, Paul shares how committed he is to undergo any difficulty related to this cause.
Comparing to Paul, do we center our lives for the sake of the Gospel?
Lord, we ask your Spirit to fill us, so we may live this day to shine your light to this world.
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