For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them…I have become all things to all people, that by all means
1 Corinthians 9:19,22 ESV
I might save some.
This morning I came across these verses. They’re familiar passages, but they stood out in my reading. Paul, the author, said he’s made himself a servant to win more and save some. This simple word “made” implies a level of self-discipline was involved in the making of himself a servant. No one naturally wants to serve others; we’d rather others serve us. At the very least, we want to be noticed for what we have done.
But that’s not serving, really, is it?
Rage cleaning and complaining
I am a cleaner. There have been times I’ve been known to “rage clean.” I’m sure you’ve heard of my type. We carry on about others helping us, but when push comes to shove, no one can clean like we can. So we are doomed to clean everything alone, and all around us are doomed to hear us complain about it. What those of us who rage clean want is recognition for all the effort we put into our work. We want to be told what a great job we have done and how amazing we are.
This isn’t the kind of serving Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 9:19,22.
A servant to win more and save some
Serving others in the 1 Corinthians way has more to do with others than with ourselves. Our motives for serving should not be recognition for our great efforts. Paul said he was a servant to win more and save some. When I look at my motives, there’s been many times I’ve not served with that in mind. Serving with this heart requires a large serving of humility (pun intended).
And Jesus called them to Him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:42-45
Jesus said the motives of those serving in the world are to exercise authority over others. In the world, dignitaries who are otherwise called “public servants” require a level of decorum. They demand honor, respect, and sometimes financial compensation for their “service.” To this, Jesus said, “But it shall not be so among you.”
What’s more for others might mean less for us, but that’s alright. It’s not meant to be so for us. This doesn’t make us “less than.” On the contrary, it makes us “more than.” More than what? More than what the world expects, more than what we expect, and in the process we might win more and save some.
PS – I cleaned the house yesterday. Instead of asking for thanks, I just asked that everyone live outside 😂.
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