Reflections with Andy - 1 Corinthians 9: 15-27 – People Matter
We become all things to all people so that some may be saved because God loves them all. We can learn, and we can love. People matter
In today’s episode of Reflections with Andy, we conclude 1 Corinthians 9 as Paul declares that he has become “all things to all people” for the sake of the gospel. What does that mean for us today? It means learning to listen before we speak, seeking to understand people before we try to persuade them, and remembering that every person matters because every person matters to God. Our calling is to meet people where they are and lovingly point them to Jesus.
Join us for our daily reflections. In 10 short minutes, we’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help us better understand God’s Word.
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Good morning! It’s good to be with you on this Tuesday morning. I hope you’re doing well and that your week is off to a great start.
Things are busy around here—as always. One of these days I may not be busy, but I don’t think today is that day, and it probably won’t be tomorrow either!
I was looking at my schedule, though, and I think I might actually have a little time this afternoon to work with my Post-it notes.
If you know me, you know that nothing makes my heart happier than a whiteboard and a stack of Post-it notes. I love taking all the ideas floating around in my head, getting them out where I can see them, and doing my own little “Beautiful Mind” routine—connecting ideas and making sense of everything.
So maybe I’ll get a little time to do that today.
Today we’re finishing Chapter 9 of 1 Corinthians. Yesterday Paul talked about his rights as an apostle and why, even though he had the right to receive support for his ministry, he often chose not to exercise that right so that nothing would become an obstacle to the gospel.
Let’s pick up with 1 Corinthians 9:15–27.
Read the passage here.
One of the best-known verses in this chapter is where Paul says,
“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.”
I love that verse.
Paul is talking about the freedom he has in Christ.
He is no longer bound by the ceremonial requirements of the Old Testament law. He doesn’t have to observe the old purity regulations because his life is now centered on Christ.
Yet Paul says that freedom isn’t about doing whatever he wants.
Instead, he uses that freedom to connect with other people.
To the Jews, he relates as a Jew.
To the Gentiles, he relates as a Gentile.
To those who are weak, he becomes weak.
In every situation, he’s asking the same question:
“How can I connect with this person so they can better understand the good news of Jesus Christ?”
I think that’s a beautiful model for ministry.
As a pastor, that’s something I try to do every day.
I want to meet people where they are.
But doing that requires something that’s becoming increasingly rare.
It requires listening.
Real listening.
Someone once said that most of us don’t listen to understand.
We listen to respond.
While another person is talking, we’re already thinking about what we’re going to say next.
We’re not really hearing them.
We’re simply waiting for our turn.
I think that’s one of the great struggles of our culture today.
We’ve forgotten how to understand one another.
If someone disagrees with us—whether politically, theologically, or personally—we’re often tempted to assume the worst about them.
“They’re just a bad person.”
“They don’t care.”
“They’re ignorant.”
But what if they simply have a different life experience?
What if they’ve walked a different road than we have?
Now, understanding someone doesn’t mean you have to agree with them.
It doesn’t mean you abandon your convictions.
It simply means you care enough to listen.
To understand their story.
To understand why they see the world the way they do.
And here’s why that matters.
Paul says,
“I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.”
People matter.
That’s the reason.
People matter because they matter to God.
Scripture tells us that God desires for all people to be saved.
That means there isn’t a single person you’ll meet today whom God does not love.
Not one.
The people who agree with you.
The people who disagree with you.
The people who are easy to love.
The people who are difficult to love.
Every one of them bears the image of God.
Every one of them matters to Jesus.
So we listen.
We seek to understand.
We build relationships.
Because people matter.
Years ago, there was a lot of emphasis on church growth strategies.
Some of that was helpful, and some of it wasn’t.
I’ve never been especially interested in treating the church like a business.
But there is one thing I learned that has always stayed with me.
Numbers matter.
Every Monday I look at our worship attendance here at Starkville First.
In fact, our worship attendance this July was up almost nineteen percent over last year, and I’m deeply grateful for what God is doing.
But the reason those numbers matter isn’t because bigger numbers are somehow better.
The numbers matter because every number has a name.
And every name matters to Jesus.
That’s why we care.
Not because we’re trying to build a bigger church.
But because we’re trying to reach more people with the love of Christ.
That’s Paul’s heart.
He says,
“I’ll become all things to all people.”
Not so people will admire Paul.
Not so he’ll be popular.
But so that some may come to know Jesus.
That’s our calling too.
Listen well.
Love generously.
Seek to understand.
Build bridges whenever you can.
And never forget that every person you meet today is someone whom Jesus loves deeply.
Thanks for being with me today.
Tomorrow we’ll begin Chapter 10 of 1 Corinthians.
I hope you have a wonderful day, and I’ll see you tomorrow.