Becoming a Slave to All

Scripture: Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. 1 Corinthians 9:19

Observation: Paul goes on to explain how he makes everyone feel comfortable with whom they are as a way of speaking to them about Christ. To Jews, he follows the law; To gentiles, he accepts non-Jewish practices; To the weak, he is weak. He introduces this concept using an interesting word ... slave.

Paul defines this character where he is willing to love others for whom they are, and make them comfortable in their interactions with him, by calling himself a "slave to everyone". This is a term that is beyond being kind or supportive. Being a slave means to give up oneself and one's own needs or desires, and adopt whatever the other person requires of you as your work and duty. In this way, Paul is saying that he doesn't just support others, but he completely complies with their needs.

Application: To whom am I a "slave"? Is there anyone for whom I am completely willing to lay aside everything I think of myself and to serve them, even for a day? Maybe in short bursts, my family. And maybe in durations lasting minutes, employees and peers who need me. However, while I may aspire to humble myself and serve others, my heart stops short of "slavery" to others.

This is next-level love ... to simply surrender your time, aptitude, and preferences to another. I now see that, when I am falling short of serving others, I am really falling short of a diminished goal. I am far away from loving others. And this, I have learned recently, is the heart of the issues in my life. This - loving others - needs to become my life's mission.

Prayer: Lord, I know I have made progress, but I know I am still far from the man I should be when it comes to loving others, and therefore of loving you. May I continue to find the humility I need in this current circumstance, so that I can truly be the clay you are forming in your masterful hands. Amen.