Study Forge

// Intro

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

9:19 For though I be free from all [men], yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

9:20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

9:21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

NOTE: He is NOT saying here that he's ignoring the law of God (10 Comms.)

9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.

9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].

// All things to all men...

"All things to all men..."
What does that mean?
That's kind of a hard question to answer...
Unless you read the scripture around it, that is
Because Paul states the answer in that passage we just read
[Re-read Passage]

He's NOT saying that he compromises his morals to make sinners feel more comfortable
Their sin NEEDS to make them uncomfortable
He's NOT saying that he emulates or copies them so that they accept them into their group
We're supposed to let our light shine brightly before all men and NOT hide it under a bushel
That light needs to shine upon their sin so they can see it!
Keep in mind that that 'Light' is because of our obedience to the Spirit of God in us.

What he's saying is this...
"I conduct myself in a way that respects them as a people and a person."
You can show respect to people without stooping to sinful levels and compromising your morals.
"...I became as a Jew..." means 'LIKE' or 'SIMILAR TO' a Jew
Not, "I became a Jew"
Which means he didn't blatently and boldly do things in front of Jews (the one's he's trying to reach) that would needlessly offend them
He wasn't eating bacon and eggs in front of them
Down-to-earth example: talking about gaming around gaming addicts
If I'm around a gaming addict, I'm gonna be the guy that NEVER talks about gaming, out of respect for him/her AND God

Anyway, that's what that means
But what I want to focus on is the last verse in that passage...

1 Corinthians 9:22b-23

9:22b ... I am made all things to all [men], that I might by all means save some.

9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with [you].

What's it worth to you to get someone saved?
What's it worth to you to help a saved person grow in the Word and Spirit?
Are you willing to pay attention and respect someone enough as a person to not offend them NEEDLESSLY?
Are you willing to not brag about yourself so much that they lose interest?
Are you willing to listen to THEM? To actually listen and think about what they're saying?
So that maybe you can help them either get saved or grow in the Spirit and Word?
Are you willing to lose a silly argumnent to preserve the future opportunity to reach them later?
Or do you have to prove how holy you are to save face?

Matthew 5:10-16, 25-26

5:10 Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

I don't like that one. That has to be the hardest one for me to accept.

5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

If you insist on proving how awesome and holy you are or winning petty arguments to save face...

Then you're effectively NUKING your opportunity to minister to that person

Your salt becomes flavorless and worthless.

The thing is, you won't even notice it right away because you're too high on yourself or high on your victory

5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

He's STILL talking about being blessed when you're persecuted and reviled...

5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him stop and think about what's at stake; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

In other words, guilty or not, they will see you as guilty and your witness is become powerless!

And not just to them, but to anyone that finds out about it!

How much is it really worth?!

One more thing before we move on...

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

1:3 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

1:6 And whether we be afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation.

1:7 And our hope of you [is] stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so [shall ye be] also of the consolation.

Rightly Aligned

~ Jesse Eyestone ~