1 Corinthians 9:19

1 Corinthians 9:19 says, For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  Paul continues to speak about his providing for himself as he preached, then expands it to other areas of his life.  He said materially he was free from all men.  He was indebted to no one in relationship to preaching, but he had made himself a servant to all so that he might reach even more people with the gospel.  Preachers today, whether having their needs totally met by the church or somewhat or totally meeting their own needs, must always feel free to preach the truth of the gospel.  If they become concerned about whether or not the message of the gospel and all that it implies for the life of believers will offend those who they are preaching to, especially if they are relying on them for their income, then they may be tempted to change what God teaches His followers.  Verse twenty adds, 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;  Some might claim that Paul said he was playing a part when he encountered different groups of people.  When he said to the Jew he became as a Jew, I think what he really meant was that he was meeting them on common ground.  He did not dismiss their faith but witnessed to them through their faith.  We do not need to go into the world pretending to be something we are not, but we do need to be able to meet people where they are at spiritually.  We cannot approach everyone the same way.  Paul said he did this so that he could gain, or reach with the gospel, those that were under the law of God as they understood it.  Verse twenty-one continues, 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.   Paul said he approached gentiles, those who did not acknowledge the law of God, differently than he did the Jews.  He again met them where they were at spiritually.  Verse twenty-two states, 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.  I believe Paul was saying that he did not come to those who were weak as someone who was superior to them, but as one who was no better than them.  To be all things to all people did not mean that Paul would enter into sinful actions in order to reach people for Christ, but that he would meet them where they were spiritually.  We cannot approach someone who has never heard the gospel the same way we do someone who has grown up hearing it but has not believed. Still, in either case we must reach out to them in such a way that the gospel touches their lives, so that they might be saved.  Verse twenty-three adds, And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Paul was not doing the things he did for his own glory or satisfaction, but for the sake of the gospel.  As followers of Christ today, we must do everything for the sake of spreading the gospel.  Verse twenty-four continues, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.  Paul said in a race that everyone runs, but only one wins, but that we are still to run that we might win.  In earthly terms, all but one lose, but in heavenly terms, all who run the race for the glory of God win.  We cannot expect to be successful in our Christian witness if we never start to witness.  The fact that someone else seems to be more successful should not stop us from witnessing for Christ.  Verse twenty-five says, And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. Paul said that winning in worldly things only brought a corruptible crown, but that the things done for God brought an incorruptible one.  For this reason, we need to put God first in all that we do, not simply for a crown or reward, but because everything we do for God has an everlasting benefit.  Verse twenty-six adds, I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:  I believe Paul was saying that he had assurance in the things he did.  He was actively involved in spreading God's word, and not just shadow boxing on the sidelines.  Verse twenty-seven continues, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.  Paul said that though he was free to do all things through Christ, he still kept himself under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  When he said that he might be castaway if he didn't, he did not mean that he would lose his salvation, but that he would lose his effectiveness as a witness for God. We cannot allow our witnessing to others to become more important than our own spiritual relationship with God. If we neglect our own spiritual growth, we will become ineffective in proclaiming the gospel.