Being All Things to All People

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;...I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I Corinthians 9:19-22.

When Paul tells the church at Corinth that he has made himself a servant to all, he is inviting us to do the same: that is, to serve people in whatever capacity He has equipped us, wherever He has placed us. I am ashamed to say that it has taken me a long time to look at this not as a mere stepping stone to something “greater” but to allow God to use me right there.

We serve others in our families, in our church and at our workplace. He has placed us wherever it pleased Him and He apparently expects us to serve in that location, in a local church, in a community and in a place of employment. By being all things to all people, did He mean for us to blend into the world and become like them? I don't think that's what He meant.

When we fashion our lives like the world, we do damage to ourselves and we harm the church and the gospel. I believe God's word tells us we will stand before God for the way we choose to conduct our lives, and so we should be paying attention to what He is asking us to do because we are accountable.

Living For Him and Not For Ourselves

I have been reading about how we are supposed to live not for ourselves but for Him. Paul said, “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (II Corinthians 5:15) So, what does that mean? Are we following Christ or are we following our own natural inclinations?

I finally got over the fact that God was not going to let me continue to play music as a profession. I wasn't going to continue playing in bars, and He made it clear that the gift of music that He gave me was for His glory, not for mine. I know some people can regard playing music as “just their job,” but I never could, not after I found out its purpose was to honor and glorify Him.

When I minister in music at church I am totally fulfilled. I used to complain a lot that I couldn't do it more, but God finally convinced me that I could be content with the way He had arranged my life if I always made obedience to Him my first priority. So today I am just grateful that I get to participate in leading congregational worship and I love playing at home alone with Him.

Service God's Vehicle For The Great Commission

We are all called to serve God by serving others in whatever capacity God has blessed us. For some of us it might take a lifetime to finally be content with where God has placed us. And that time may come when God will allow us to be uncomfortable because He is changing where He's having us serve. But if we are following Jesus we can learn to serve with joy.

Are you in a time of transition? Are you feeling stuck? Or are you fully trusting in the Lord to guide you and place you where He can develop your gifts and work in you to produce His character? I am glad God is patient and He is teaching me to be patient, with Him, with myself and with others. He really does know what He's doing and we don't. That's humbling, of course.

I pray for you that you would believe and receive God's best for your life in whatever position he blesses you with. I pray for provision and protection and that you would learn to rest in His love. This has been hard for me. I'm not saying it's easy. But His ways are always better than our ways. I bless you with His peace, in Jesus' name. He has placed you in the world to make you a fisher of men. Live your life before Him with dignity and grace and allow Him to use you to seek and save the lost. “For  by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible...All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16) Amen.