Win As Many As Possible

Alba 6-29-2025

WIN AS MANY AS POSSIBLE

I Corinthians 9:19-23

One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally worn out Bible.

The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church building the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the cowboy took a seat, the others settled down in areas away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all dismayed at his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.

The preacher gave a long sermon about Hellfire and brimstone and a stern lecture on how people ought to be finding more people to win to Jesus because baptisms were down. As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor. “Before you return next time, maybe have a talk with God and ask him what He thinks would be appropriate attire for worship. You might find that would help you fit in a little better and feel more at home with us.”

The old cowboy assured the preacher he would. The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the man and said, “I thought I asked you to speak to God about your attire and get his input on the matter of appropriate dress for worship in His church.”

“Oh, I did that… I truly did,” replied the old cowboy. “If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper dress should be for worshiping in here?” asked the preacher. “Well, sir, God told me that He didn’t have a clue what I should wear here these days – He says He’s not attended here in a long time.”

As the Lord said to Samuel in I Samuel 16:7, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” The apostle Paul understood that. And his concern was not how someone was dressed, but what their condition was before the Lord. He knew that we should...

See Everyone as Someone for Whom Christ Died (vs. 19)

In I Corinthians 9:19 he writes, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” Who does he make himself a slave to? Everyone. Paul was a Roman citizen and had rights that others without that would not have. He was an apostle, which would give him rights of authority. But he says he is a slave to everyone because he wants to win to Christ as many as possible.

In the first verses of this chapter, Paul made it clear that his love for the Lord put him under obligation to preach the Good News of Jesus. He was going to proclaim the gospel to people in any way, and as many ways, as he could. The gospel message is that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, has come into this world and offered Himself as a sacrifice, taking the punishment for our sins so that we can be forgiven.

The scripture says in that familiar verse, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV) That verse says “whosoever”! And as the hymn says, “Whosoever, surely meaneth me, surely meaneth me.” Yes, it includes me. It includes you. There is not a person on this earth that word does not touch. Every person with whom you come into contact is a “whosoever”. God's love is big enough for us all.

In Luke 15:1-2, just before Jesus told the parables about the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son, it says, “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, 'This Man receives sinners and eats with them.'” Jesus intentionally rubbed shoulders with the lowest of the spiritual reprobates of His day, because they mattered to Him and He wants to lead them into the family of God. The sinners that Jesus spent time with may seem more safe and sanitized than the ones that we might encounter today. But such was not the case. For example, the tax collectors Jesus associated with really did extort large amounts of money from the downtrodden people around them. And the prostitutes He expressed compassion for actually engaged in illicit sexual activity as an occupation.