Giving Up My Rights - September 06, Readings: Isaiah 23-24, 1 Corinthians 9:12–27, Psalm 104:30–35, Proverbs 22:8–9

Links to Today's Readings

Lawyers and insurance companies are pretty clear on their advice - never surrender your rights. The American constitution grants its citizens certain "unalienable" rights and we should be loathe to give those up. I do not disagree with them.

But on a personal level, Paul advocated something very different in 1 Corinthians 9. Having established that he is a full-fledged apostle who has the right to all the privileges, respect and support that any apostle should receive, he then made some strong, bold statements in 1 Corinthians 9:12-27.

He begins in verse 12 by stating his attitude towards his rights and privileges.

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 

In the interests of proclaiming the gospel of Christ, he gave up his rights - his rights to money, his rights to respect - he was willing to sacrifice any of them for the sake of the gospel of Christ. He would endure disrespect and the denial of his rights for the sake of others. He spells this out in verses 19-23. 

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

 He was willing to become "all things to all people" so that he could bring people to Christ. Nothing mattered as much to him as the cause of Christ. 

I have a lot of rights as an American. And in human terms, I consider that I have certain rights to be treated be treated a certain way. But what is there that I would not give up to see people around me come to Christ? Is there anything I have too valuable to sacrifice for Christ? Are my rights so precious that they would mean more to me than the propagation of the gospel? 

Father, may I have the devotion of Paul to the cause of your Kingdom. May nothing matter to me as much as seeing people come to the knowledge of Christ.