All Things to All Men

J.J. Stark

February 2016

Week 7

IGNITE Class 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

All Things to All Men

“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.  I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NKJV)

Weakness…that empty, gut feeling a man gets inside at the possibility he isn’t strong enough to do something…

Physically, I’ve always been strong; I’m not terribly buff or “ripped,” but for as long as I can remember I’ve always been accidentally breaking things, or over tightening lids or bolts, and often causing my mom and dad plenty of grief because I wound up doing more damage than improvement.  Mom was always reminding me that I didn’t know my own strength.  Even moving heavy or large objects around generally has come easy to me.  This is not to say that I am by any means the biggest and toughest hombre out there, because I know full well there are lots of other men bigger and stronger than me – I should know, I’ve tried tussling with them, getting hurt in the process!!  So many times though I get puffed up in my own capabilities.  I go through life interacting with people around me as though I am something special, thinking that I am invincible, and often acting that way – trying to be the best at everything.  This mentality is so dangerous, because I elevate myself above others.  Maybe it’s not necessarily elevating myself, but rather a desire to put on a “capable” front and veil my weaknesses.  In a sense, this is a fear of vulnerability.  Yes, I want to minister to people, I want to help them in there need, but I want to do it…me, me, me.  I don’t like being weak or incapable, it hurts my selfish esteem!  Yet what is Paul saying here?  “To the weak I became weak…” Basically, Paul is saying “get over yourself.”  In the fleshy mindset, I’m not all in for the Lord, in other words, because I’m still worrying about my image and what the world thinks of me, not Christ.  This signifies that I may not be completely giving my identity to Him.

Okay, so I give myself up Lord.  I want to win people for You.  How do I do it?  The answer: Become weak.

It is when I am at my weakest that God can manifest Himself the greatest.  My one and only task that Jesus has given me is to follow in everything, NOW!  By following the example of Jesus set during His time here on earth, “I will become all things to all men, so that I by all means save some.” Ultimately, Jesus is all things to all men.  He gave up His crown and glory, and made Himself weak by becoming human.  His time on earth was spent with those who were lost – not condoning the sin, but loving the sinner.  He became vulnerable to those who were vulnerable – all things to all men.  Yet what did I do?  I have laughed and mocked Him along with the rest.  Even back then they didn’t recognize this, and in Luke 7:34 it says “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”  Verse 36 says that He even went and had supper with a Pharisee.  We as humans can be so blind.   So as I follow the Lord, here is my standard, as laid out in Luke 9:23-25 – “²³Then He said to them all, ‘“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  ²⁴For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  ²⁵For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”’”

Yes sir, Lord, I will take up my cross and follow You, even if it means becoming weak, because He is My Rock and my deliver.

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Application:  Today, I will be the first to volunteer for a task during servant time – no matter the job.