Being All Things to All Men (1 Cor. 9:19-23)

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
(1 Corinthians 9:19-23, NASB)

How often do we really try to “walk in the shoes” of another? Instead of looking for what’s different, how often do we look for similarities?

Too often, we point fingers and judge rather than just love and being Christ.

Paul knew that caring for others and being “all things to all men” was important to attract unbelievers to Christ:

Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, and against relying on anything but trust in Christ alone. We must not allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel. (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible)

We need to go where unbelievers are and love them. And if you think about it, isn’t that exactly what Jesus Himself did? Didn’t He eat with prostitutes and touch lepers’ wounds?

Just as He did, just as Paul did, we can love others so they can find the truth of the gospel.