May 4, 2009 - Soul Winning Takes Hard Work

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 9

We all like to win souls for the Lord. But we don't put up the hard work to do so. We like to reap the harvest. But we want others to prepare the field, break the ground, sow and water the seed. We even like to visit people but we want others to find and cultivate the prospects. From the example of Paul, we learn that there are lots of hard work and discipline involved in soul winning. It seems that the power of the Holy Spirit does not eliminate diligent planning and sweating on our part.

Paul said that he made himself a slave to all that he might wins some more. (v. 19) He made accommodation to identify himself to whoever he was witnessing to in order to win them. (v. 20-22a) He determined that "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (v. 22b NKJV)

He compared soul winning like an athlete preparing for the famous Isthmian games in Corinth. (Similar to the Olympic games) We must run in order to win. We must run toward a goal. Like a boxer, we must subject our bodies in tough training. We should exercise self-control in all things. We should look forward to win the imperishable crown. (v. 23-27a)

If we don't do all that, we will be disqualified to get our reward from our Savior. (v.27b)