Be A Winner - Brad Anderson
Are you a winner? Perhaps you are a South Carolina Gamecock fan and the only win that matters is that oh so good 31-30 win against Clemson a couple weeks ago. Perhaps you’re a Clemson Tiger fan who revels in the historic trouncing of said Gamecocks. Maybe you’re the Tarheel fan that will forever swoon over UNC giving Coach K (and #4 Duke at the time) a big fat “L” in his final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. You may also be the Blue Devil satisfied that Coach K departed with an overall record 50-48 against Chapel Hill (though loss 47 and 48 were handed to him by the Tarheels). Being a winner feels good no matter how you slice it.
Our nation is coming off of political season where every “win” and “loss” is reported to be of epic importance to the future of our nation. The New York Times reported that nearly $1.4 billion dollars were spent in the state of Georgia on four political races between 2020-2022. Solomon would blush. Our person must win and at all costs! Win! Win! Win! Or else…
Then Paul steps in with 1 Corinthians 9:19–23
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 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.
Five times in this passage Paul speaks of winning desiring to (1) “win more of them” (2) “win Jews” (3) “win those under the law” (4) “win those outside the law” and (5) “win the weak.” His tactic for winning is “to become all things to all people” but for what purpose? He adapts his daily steps, his posture in listening and speaking, the way he positions himself in loving kindness to others, picking and choosing his words, attempting to identify with people whom he encounters for what purpose? What grand result? Well, that he “might save some” and share with them in its blessings.
Paul’s life has been hamstrung by the God of all eternity, our Savior, Jesus Christ. He now walks with a Gospel limp. His daily gait towards others has changed, and his actions are now simply those of a disciple talking cues from his master:
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal. 4:4-5)
Jesus came to save sinners, and Paul’s keen interest is to be part of that work. He’s called by God to it. If Jesus becomes man, then Paul becomes whatever he needs to in order to deliver the truth of the Gospel. If Jesus is truly Emmanuel, then Paul can be weak, he can be with the people who struggle knowing the law and with people who have no idea about the law. He simply wants to win them to Jesus and to share with them the blessings of being in the Gospel.
Pastor, parent, elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher, youth worker, choir director, women’s ministry leader, children’s ministry leader, college minister, young disciple of Jesus, weathered disciple of Jesus, husband, wife, lay leader,congregant—CHILDREN OF GOD— are you interested in winning like Paul is interested in winning? While rivalries can be fun, and politics have become too intense, let’s take some time this Christmas and New Year season to evaluate what it might mean for us to become all things to all people that we might win some to the Gospel. Let’s be winners.