1 Corinthians: Not in VainSample

Are you ever struck how some people’s lives are just so different from your own? We naturally tend to get close to people who are similar to us – whether it’s in background, stage of life or social class. As the saying goes, ‘birds of a feather flock together’. 

But what would it look like to view people who are different from us through the lens of the gospel? 

After underlining that he’s not angling for payment – even though he’s entitled to it (vv. 13–15) – Paul now outlines that his own motivation for ministry is a matter of stewardship and service. 

Firstly, he’s driven by stewardship, because he feels compelled to share the message that has been entrusted to him (v. 17): ‘woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!’ (v. 16). Do we consider ourselves stewards of the gospel? Although we’re not apostles, every church is entrusted with the gospel – and the way to guard this message of good news is to share it faithfully and abundantly. 

But, secondly, he’s driven by service, because that’s how Paul considers his relationship with those he comes into contact with; ‘though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible’ (v. 19). Can you imagine considering yourself a slave to the lost world around you, radically committed to its salvation? 

To give us a glimpse of this in practice, Paul explains that in order to reach different groups of people, he will intentionally give up different rights and adapt certain practices, all so that people will be able to hear and meaningfully engage with the gospel – and ultimately that they might be saved (v. 22). In other words, how he acted around Jews would be very different from how he acted around Gentiles. Vaughan Roberts calls this being ‘a chameleon for Christ’. 

This is not about changing the gospel message or being deceitful. Rather it’s about our love for others and passion for the gospel making us willing to be culturally sensitive and flexible in our approach, all so that gospel growth is not hindered.

Reflection

Pray for some of the unbelievers who you come into regular contact with. Maybe there are people who you see regularly but whose lives just seem so different from yours. How could you get on their wavelength in order to create gospel opportunities?