1 Corinthians 9 Devotional

Free to Serve Everyone

“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”1 Corinthians 9:22 (BSB)

Paul now shows that he lives the way he has just described. As an apostle who has seen the Lord, he has every right to be supported by the churches. Soldiers and farmers live from their work, and the Lord himself directed that those who preach the gospel should live by it (9:1-14). Yet Paul has used none of these rights, putting up with anything rather than hinder the gospel (9:12, 15).

He is free from everyone, yet he makes himself a slave to all, becoming like a Jew to win Jews and weak to win the weak, so that by every means he might save some (9:19-22). This is the shape of Christ's own grace, who was rich yet became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9). Paul disciplines himself like a runner aiming for a crown that will never perish (9:24-27). Because the gospel has been given to you freely, you can loosen your grip on what you are owed and spend yourself so that others might hear it.

To think about: Which of your rights or comforts might you set aside this week so that someone else could see the gospel more clearly?