What's Your Prize

In the first part of chapter 9, Paul argues that as an apostle of Jesus Christ, he has the right to not only earn wages for working for the Lord, but he also has the right to refuse those wages. Someone in the Corinthian church made his wages the issue. Paul said, “Look, whether I charge or don’t charge for preaching the gospel doesn’t matter. I have rights, but I don’t always enforce those rights - I am a free person, but I never use my freedom for personal gain. What really is important here is not my wages or my rights, but that the gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed.”

That’s the setting. Verse 19

1 Corinthians 9:19 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

What Paul was saying here was revolutionary. In the Roman world, people were either free or a slave. For the most part, slavery was a horrible and inhumane existence. Most slaves could only dream of being free - of going where they wanted, doing what they wanted, owning their own property - living day by day without someone telling them what to do. No free person would ever want to become a slave.

But here, Paul says, “I have made myself a servant to all.” That is how Paul often addressed himself, as a servant.

Get this, at the heart (motive) of serving is not serving. Some of us like to serve others naturally - we just like to help. But that is not what Paul is referring to. His motive for what he did was always Christ centered in two ways: 1) he served others because he knew Christ. 2) He served others so that they would know Christ.

So, just a simple question: Why do we do what we do?

Why did Paul intentionally make himself a servant? To win more of them? Who are “Them?”

1 Corinthians 9:20–22 ESV

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 not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

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 not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. Jews and those under the law - you can read that as “religious people.”

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. Let’s just say, non-religious people.

22 To the weak I became weak (most believe he is now referring to Christians - weak ones that is), that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

With that last statement, just keep in mind that Paul never thought of himself as the savior, but always the servant. His goal was ever to be a tool in the Savior’s hands.

What is Paul saying here? I became like someone who believes differently than me so I could help them see Jesus - and of course, ultimately help them know Jesus.

What does it mean to become like …? Let’s start with what it is not. It’s not compromise. We are to never compromise Biblical values and truths in order to “evangelize.” You don’t become drunk to reach drunk people! You don’t sin, so you can reach sinners.

It’s not syncretism - the joining or blending of beliefs. We don’t blend essential Biblical doctrine with other doctrines. To do so is to dilute the truth and render the message of the cross powerless.

When Paul said, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some,” he meant is that he connected with people on common ground. He didn’t allow titles or labels to interfere with the love of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel.

If we as Christians are talking to someone and we find out they’re a liberal or a conservative and the wall goes up (no pun intended), and we no longer see a person made in the image God, but we see a label, we see a political ideology - we have the problem.

Hudson Taylor is a great example of becoming all things. When the British were trying to evangelize China, they found it nearly impossible. They were restricted to a small area along the coast. Why? Stayed in their stuffy suits, “imposed” British ways of Christianity. Hudson had a different approach. He shaved his head, pony tail, learned the language, dressed like them … but never compromised the gospel or Biblical values. That is, what one book calls “considerate evangelism.”

How did Paul and others accomplish this? Henry Chadwick said that ...

Paul “… had an astonishing elasticity of mind, and a flexibility in dealing with situations requiring delicate and ingenious treatment.” (Henry Chadwick, NTS)

Why did Paul and others go to such measures?

1 Corinthians 9:23 ESV

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

The gospel - good news. God’s love. God’s salvation. God’s plan. God’s purpose.

Just a simple question: what do you do for the sake of the Gospel? Think of it like this - what do I do with the intent that someone will come to faith in Christ?

Humans are good at doing habit, routine, convenience, comfortable …. Not everyone …. Living life for the gospel will often cause us to make changes, break old habits and form new ones, go places that are uncomfortable, inconvenient …

Paul wraps it up with this …

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Run so that you may obtain the prize!

Just a simple question: what is your prize? Retirement? Peace?

Have you ever defined your prize? What are you and I really working toward?

Paul gives us a metaphor about what a lot of people work toward. He says that

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Athletes eat right, train hard, forsake many pleasures … all for the prize … all for something that will perish.

Why does Paul mention this? As one commentary stated, “The strenuous self-denial of the athlete as he sought a fleeting reward is a rebuke to half-hearted, flabby Christian service. The athlete denies himself many lawful pleasures and the Christian must similarly avoid not only definite sin, but anything that hinders spiritual progress.”

The Christian should do the same for an eternal prize. We too should eat right, train hard and practice self-control and self-discipline … why? Because in the End there will be winners and losers. But the losers lose for eternity. Because there is a heaven and hell, because souls are at stake …

1 Corinthians 9:26 ESV

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

Just a simple question: where are you heading in life? If we proclaim that God has a purpose and plan for each person, what is yours? Mine? I know we won’t always know all the specifics, but we, more than all people should have a sense of meaning, purpose and direction.

We should not live being blown by the wind - just going with the flow …. But,

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

I discipline my body.

Just a simple question: who’s in charge of your life? Who is telling you what to do and when to do it? Who or what is your primary influence? Fleshly desires? Algorithms? Holy Spirit?

Paul disciplined his body, his mind, his actions, his motives … to be under the control and influence of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17), so as not to be disqualified. That means to make the proclamation of the gospel ineffective.

1 Corinthians 9:19 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

I’ve used this illustration several years ago, but it’s worth repeating. Joseph Damien, was a Belgian priest. At first, he was considered not quite smart enough to be a priest. Nonetheless, in 1873, he was sent to Hawaii to minister to those with Hansen’s disease or leprosy.

When he arrived on Molokai, one of the islands he tried to build friendships with the residents, but they rejected him. And so he worked harder, and poured himself into the ministry. He built a small chapel and held worship services. But hardly anyone came. He did everything he knew how to do to reach them, but he made little progress. After 12 long years, he gave up. It was useless – he was never going to reach them with the gospel, so he packed his bags. The story that I read stated that while he stood on the pier preparing to board the ship that would take him back to Belgium, he noticed something upon his hands. Leprosy is typically not contagious. A person has a 5% chance of getting leprosy by physical contact.

Joseph Damien was among the 5%. The white spots on his hands could mean only one thing - he had contracted leprosy. So instead of going home, he returned to the leper colony.

News of his plight quickly spread throughout the community, and soon the lepers, if you will, hundreds of them in fact, had gathered outside his hut. They understood his pain and despair. But more importantly, Damien, who is now a Saint in the Catholic church, understood their pain and despair. The following Sunday when Damien arrived at the chapel, the small building could not contain all the people.

Becoming all things to all people to win as many as possible by all means, is not really a matter of personal decision. We do not choose to become all things. We do not simply choose to be servants to all. Rather, it is a response to the call of Christ. It is a response to the cross of Christ. It is a response to the love of Christ - for Christ’s love should compel us.

Just a simple question: Are you and I willing to allow ourselves to become all things to all people to win as many of possible by all possible means?