Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. . . I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 9:19,23

It may be a virtue to put other people’s needs ahead of your own, but it can burn you out fast. Compassion fatigue is a real thing. Needy people can take everything out of you. Unappreciative people can make you resentful.

If you are going to find out other people’s needs and try to meet them, it’s best to have a clear purpose for doing that. In today’s Bible reading, the encouragement is to do all that for the sake of the gospel.

That means that while you are sympathetic to the perceived needs of people, you know that their real greatest need is a connection to Jesus as their Savior. People need to acknowledge that they are sinners, and they need to hear that Jesus forgives them. That’s the gospel.

When you look at your life of service through that lens, you will share in the blessings of the gospel. Acknowledging that you are a sinner makes you more patient with unappreciative people who are sinners, too. Hearing that Jesus forgives you gives you the strength to forgive them.

In fact, the gospel is an endless source of motivation and energy for going out of your way to serve others.

Prayer: