Becoming all things to all people in order to win a few...

I Cor. 9:19
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 become like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the lawI became like one under the law, though I myself am not under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law, though I am not free of 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. Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that won't last.
We do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run as a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

This scripture says so much about my struggle with weight issues. The first thing he says is that he is free and belongs to no man. Then he says he makes himself a slave to everyone==the purpose is to win as many as possible. I think the whole purpose of this passage is to say that the reason for disciplining ourselves and for refraining from demanding our own freedom to live our lives as we please--is to win souls for Jesus. Whenever I demand my freedom of choice, it is for selfish reasons.
Paul knew he was free, but chose to become a "slave to all men" in order to save a few people. In the past, I wanted to lose weight to fit into the social norm or to be accepted and approved of, but a better reason to discipline myself is for the sake of my testimony about Christ. If my weight is a problem to others, then my testimony about Christ may suffer. Paul states that he is not a slave to any man. It is not a good enough reason for me to try to lose weight just to satisfy a social norm, but it is good to discipline myself in order to be a witness of God's power working in me. More tomorrow....