It is possible, even in our interaction with our fellow Christians, that we forget the Lord. It is also possible in our interaction with the world. How often, when we meet with unconverted people, do we slip into the current of their thoughts, and find a theme in common with them! Sometimes this is mourned over, and sad to say, sometimes it is defended. The defense is usually founded upon an erroneous view of the Apostle’s expression, “I am made all things to all men” (1 Cor. 9:22). This surely does not mean that he entered into the folly and nonsense of worldly men. By no means. What then does the expression mean? It means that Paul denied himself among all classes of men, in order that he might “by all means save some.” His object was to bring sinners to Christ, and not to please himself by entering into their vain and foolish habits of conversation.
Let us look at the Master Himself and see how He carried Himself toward the men of this world. Did He ever find an object in common with them in their folly and sin? Never. He was always feeding upon and filled with one object, and of that object He spoke. He ever sought to lead the thoughts of men to God. This should be our object too. Whenever or wherever we meet men, we should lead them to think of Christ, and if we do not find an open door for that, we should certainly not allow ourselves to be carried into the current of their thoughts. If we have business to transact with men, we must transact it, but we should not have any fellowship with them in their habits of thought or conversation, because our Master never had. If we diverge from His path as to this, we shall soon sink into a low and unsanctified tone of spirit. We shall be as “salt that has lost its saltness,” and thus be “good for nothing.”
C. H. Mackintosh, adapted