“For though I am free from all men,
I have made myself a servant to all,
that I might win the more”
(1 Corinthians 9:19).
In just seven verses, Paul repeats six times that he wants to win the maximum number of people for the kingdom of God. That is why he has “enslaved” himself seeking the salvation of all. His salary ad his rewards were souls. He sought to save as many people as possible, because deep down he wanted everyone to be saved. Without putting at risk the biblical principles or doctrine, he adapted to customs, culture, and philosophy. His sole purpose in adapting was to lead people to the Savior.
That is why he worked for the Jews who believed themselves saved by the law and for the heathen who are lawless (Rom. 2:11-13). He worked for the weak and the powerful, for the dejected and the guillible, for the intellectuals and the illiterate, for the rich and the poor. He did not arouse prejudice, he did not scandalize them, and he did not go around trying to provoke them, so that “by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:22).
Everyone wants to win: the one who plays a sport, the one who does business, the one who sells, the one who studies, the one who teaches, the one who deposits money, the bank that receives it, the one who sells health, the one who sells health insurance… everybody wants to win, and as long as it is lawful, that is great! Now, when we talk about winning souls and when we say that we have to win the most, some in church get nervous, but look at what a great evangelist said:
“Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.”
Another great writer puts it this way: “The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 29).
There is a volunteer missionary in Cayambe, Ecuador, in addition to attending to her family and work responsibilities, led forty people to get baptized in eleven months. She visits people in their homes, helps them, gives them Bible studies, and brings them to Jesus, to church, to baptism, and to discipleship. What a wonderful expample!
Our Savior worked tirelessly to seek and to save.
No sacrifice stopped Him.
“His colaborers must work as He worked, hesitating not
to seek the fallen, deeming no effort too taxing,
no sacrifice too great, if they may but win souls to Christ”
(Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 495).
Lord, You can count on me today!
May the Lord bless you and fill you with courage and boldness!