I am in the book of 1 Corinthians in my daily Bible reading. In chapter 9, Paul talks about all he is willing to do to win others over to Jesus. This comes right after the chapter where he urges believers not to let their freedom become a stumbling block. Whether you eat the meat or refrain from it, the point is love. We’re called to lay down our freedoms for the sake of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
In chapter 9, Paul shows us how he does exactly that. He had the right to live off the gospel. He had the right to take a believing wife. But he chose not to exercise those freedoms—for the sake of those he came to serve.
“Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?” (1 Corinthians 9:4–6 ESV).
After laying out a strong case for his rights, Paul says this:
“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” (1 Corinthians 9:19 ESV).
This is what it looks like to live for others: asking not what you are free to do, but what you can do for the good of someone else.
Paul spells it out:
“To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:20–23 ESV).
I do it all for the sake of the gospel. Can we say the same?
Are we willing to lay down our freedoms in Christ to reach someone else—or do we cling to our rights no matter how it affects those around us? Do we prefer others over ourselves?
This is deep Kingdom living. The choices we make each day should reflect Jesus. As image bearers of God, we’re meant to reflect the heart of the Creator to everyone we encounter.
Then Paul gives us a sports metaphor to make it plain:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:24–25 ESV).
We can drift through life doing only what’s comfortable, or we can choose to live with a fixed purpose: What can I do today to win as many as possible for Jesus?
“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:26–27 ESV).
We’ve all heard the phrase “win the battle but lose the war.” That’s what Paul warns us about here.
You might win the debate about your freedoms in Christ. You might enjoy every liberty the gospel gives. But if you cling to those freedoms in a way that turns others away from Jesus, you’re losing the race.
Paul is afraid of losing his purpose—of being disqualified from the very mission he’s preaching: to win people to Christ.
So he disciplines himself. He runs with focus. He lays down whatever he must—so he doesn’t miss the prize.
And what’s the prize?
It’s not comfort.
It’s not applause.
It’s not even a heavenly crown.
The prize is people.
Souls.
Lives changed by Jesus.
Let’s not be disqualified from that.
Let’s live every day with the kind of love and discipline that says: I’ll lay down anything if it means someone else finds Jesus.
What’s one area where God might be inviting you to lay something down for the sake of someone else? Share your thoughts in the comments so we can grow together.
Assume the Lord will return at 5 PM today… and live each hour accordingly.
God has given us another day to enjoy His blessings and to live as faithful stewards for His glory. The little choices we make—at work, at home, in how we speak—are all opportunities to honor Him.
What step can you take today so that you might hear God say, “Well done”? Share your thoughts in the comments so we can encourage one another and grow together.