Missional

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9: 19-23

In the military there was a principle that "the mission comes first". I think Paul exhibits this principle for Christ when he says " ... I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." Notice the use of "all" (all things, all men, all possible means) in this sentence. For Paul there was not anything that would take priority over what he could do that might save some. It is very easy for us to put other things at a higher priority that "all possible means" .. sometimes we put our comfort, our preferences, our likes and dislikes, our prejudices or our denominational heritage over doing something that "might" save others. Unfortunately for us, as for Paul, there is no guarantee that if we do something outside our comfort zone it will work. In fact, it probably will not work every time and will not work for everyone, but Paul's goal was to win "some" for Christ. We must ask ourselves if we are putting anything at a higher priority than winning "as many as possible".