19-23 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
1 Corinthians 9, The Message
Paul advised us yesterday from chapter 8 of 1 Corinthians that we not use our freedoms if it becomes a stumbling block to another Christian. He spoke specifically of dietary rules of what we can eat and what we cannot eat. He lived in a culture where fresh meat was used in temples. We do not disagree among ourselves about meat but we might disagree about the use of alcohol in church or dancing or types of music. Today in chapter 9 Paul goes on to talk about his rights as an apostle to bring a wife or family along on his journeys or to expect to be paid for preaching. He has not taken advantage of any of his rights but has identified with the people he is with. We might call it “contextualization.” Some might call it “going native.” Paul says he has tried to be a servant to those he is with, speaking with them in a manner they understand.
The Incarnation, the coming of Jesus as a baby that grew into an adult man, would be an example that probably deeply impacted Paul. God did not just stay in heaven nor did he just continue sending prophets. Jesus came as the God/man to live in ways we understand so we could grasp what God is like. He even died, or walked through death, and resurrected so we would know that even death cannot separate us from God, even our sin has been dealt with. Paul sees this type of humble love as the avenue for sharing. Demanding our rights will get us nowhere.
So where does that leave us today? I think we need to ask the Holy Spirit to shine his flashlight on our hearts that we might see if there is any way that we are being proud and demanding our rights. Are there ways that we are feeling superior and asking people to conform to us rather than conform to Christ? Lord, help us be honest with ourselves.
On the Way to Wonder 