目标只有一个
哥林多前书九章19至27节
19我虽是自由的,无人辖管;然而我甘心作了众人的仆人,为要多得人。
20向犹太人,我就作犹太人,为要得犹太人;向律法以下的人,我虽不在律法以下,还是作律法以下的人,为要得律法以下的人。
21向没有律法的人,我就作没有律法的人,为要得没有律法的人;其实我在神面前,不是没有律法;在基督面前,正在律法之下。
22向软弱的人,我就作软弱的人,为要得软弱的人。向甚么样的人,我就作甚么样的人。无论如何,总要救些人。
23凡我所行的,都是为福音的缘故,为要与人同得这福音的好处。
24岂不知在场上赛跑的都跑,但得奖赏的只有一人?你们也当这样跑,好叫你们得着奖赏。
25凡较力争胜的,诸事都有节制,他们不过是要得能坏的冠冕;我们却是要得不能坏的冠冕。
26所以,我奔跑不像无定向的;我斗拳不像打空气的。
27我是攻克己身,叫身服我,恐怕我传福音给别人,自己反被弃绝了。
信息分享
我们从经文得知,保罗不仅是愿意传福音,他传福音的心志非常的热切,他渴望在任何时间,任何地点,并向每个人传扬福音。为此,他总是寻找机会去向人传讲耶稣。这是他的人生使命,也是他最渴望完成的工作。他之所以对传福音的工作抱有如此强烈的使命感,皆因他热切爱慕耶稣基督,只想讨祂的喜悦。
保罗愿意与任何人交往,为的是寻找机会向他们传讲基督。每人都有不同的生活习惯和生活方式,但保罗为了传福音给别人,便甘愿作出迁就。当我们反观自己,便不难发现我们会划定一个传福音的范围,不愿意走到不同阶层、不同背景或不同生活方式的人中间传福音。保罗却愿意为了向人传福音,为了赢取他们归向基督,而甘愿做任何事情。
在这里的最后几节,保罗将自己的一项「秘密」告诉我们:他原来不会让肉体的需要来操控他做任何事。他要确保他的身体就像他的心灵一样,是用来服事基督的。他并非害怕失去救恩,他只是不想自己在传福给别人之后,却做出有失见证的行为。
换言之,我们今天成了基督徒和获得圣灵内住之后,仍可能受肉体的欲望所操控。然而,我们却可以学像保罗,接受圣灵的掌管,每天都过得胜的生活。
保罗愿意将一生奉献给基督。回顾他的一生,他为信仰付出了高昂的代价,最终甚至付上了性命。但是,他却认为他一生能够认识和服事基督,乃是无上的光荣与特权,因此,付上任何代价也是值得的。他这种对信仰的态度,究竟对我们有甚么提醒呢?
反思:
人的一生始终会过去;为主而作的工却永存。
ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Message
Paul was willing, even eager, to preach the gospel anywhere, at any time, to anyone. He looked on every contact as an opportunity to tell someone else about Christ. This was his life work and the great desire of his heart. He had a deep sense of dedication to the work of Christ because he was so devoted to the person of Christ.
Paul was willing to get alongside people in order to speak to them of Christ. If the person lived in a certain way Paul was willing to share that way of life with him so that he could speak of Christ. Too often we are not in touch with people who really need Christ because we do not want to share their circumstances. Paul was willing to be all things to all men so that he might win some to Christ.
In the last few verses of our reading Paul tells us something we would never have known had he not told us. Paul never let his body or his physical needs rule his life. He made sure that his body served Christ as much as his soul and spirit. He was never afraid of being lost, but he was afraid that after he had pointed others to Christ, he might fail to be the Christian he ought to be.
It is possible today to be a Christian and to be indwelt by the Spirit of God and yet to be controlled by the flesh and its appetites. It is just as possible to live under the control of the Spirit of God and to know victory in these things day by day.
Paul was willing for his whole life to be dedicated to Christ. It cost him a great deal throughout his life and finally life itself. But he thought it worthwhile, for the privilege of knowing Christ and serving him. What does that say to us today?
'Only one life, 'twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last.'

