1 Corinthians 9:8-12: a reflection

8Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing? 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares, 10or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope. 11If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things? 12If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

Paul, though he had a legitimate right to receive material support for his ministry, chose not to use it, so that nothing might hinder the gospel. If others partake of this right over you, don't we yet more? Paul asks. Nevertheless we didn't use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ. Paul had every right, grounded even in Scripture, to be supported by those he served; but he was willing to forgo that right, to bear the cost himself, so that no one could accuse him of preaching for money, and nothing would hinder the gospel. He gave up a legitimate right for the sake of the good news. This shows the willingness to forgo even our legitimate rights so as not to hinder the gospel or others. Forgo even legitimate rights so as not to hinder the gospel. Paul gave up his right to support for the gospel's sake. Sometimes love gives up rights it could rightly claim. Do not insist on every right if it would hinder the gospel or others.

Notice what Paul did and why. He had a genuine right to material support; he argues for it clearly, even from Scripture. It would have been entirely legitimate for him to receive support from those he served. And yet he chose not to use this right, to forgo it, to bear the cost of his own support himself, so that nothing might hinder the gospel, so that no one could say he preached for money or accuse him of ministering for gain. He gave up a right he could rightly have claimed, for the sake of the gospel and those he served. This is a striking example of a love that forgoes even legitimate rights when claiming them would hinder the good news or harm others. We often insist on our rights, on what we are entitled to, and rightly so in many cases. But there are times when love, and the good of the gospel or of others, may call us to forgo even a legitimate right, to give up what we could rightly claim, for a higher good. To be willing to forgo our rights when insisting on them would hinder the gospel or harm others is a mark of love that puts the good of others and of Christ's cause above our own entitlements. We do well to hold our rights loosely enough to forgo them when love and the gospel call for it. Hold your rights loosely; forgo them when love or the gospel calls. Do not always insist on your rights; consider the good of others and the gospel. Love may give up even legitimate rights for a higher good. Put the gospel and others' good above your own entitlements.

That is worth taking to heart, for love may call us to forgo even our legitimate rights when insisting on them would hinder the gospel or harm others, as Paul gave up his right to support for the gospel's sake. We can insist on our rights, on what we are entitled to; but Paul, though he had a genuine right to material support, forwent it so that nothing might hinder the gospel. Love holds rights loosely. Do not always insist on your rights; be willing to forgo even legitimate ones when love and the gospel call for it, putting the good of others and Christ's cause above your entitlements. Be willing to forgo even your legitimate rights when insisting on them would hinder the gospel or harm others, holding your rights loosely enough to give them up for a higher good, as Paul, though he had a genuine right, grounded even in Scripture, to receive material support for his ministry, chose not to use it, bearing the cost himself, so that nothing might hinder the good news of Christ and no one could accuse him of preaching for money; for it would have been entirely legitimate for Paul to receive support from those he served, and yet he gave up a right he could rightly have claimed for the sake of the gospel and those he served, which is a striking example of a love that forgoes even legitimate rights when claiming them would hinder the good news or harm others, since we often insist on our rights and what we are entitled to, rightly in many cases, but there are times when love and the good of the gospel or of others may call us to forgo even a legitimate right for a higher good, so that to be willing to forgo our rights when insisting on them would hinder the gospel or harm others is a mark of love that puts the good of others and of Christ's cause above our own entitlements, and we do well to hold our rights loosely enough to forgo them when love and the gospel call for it.

Lord, Paul, though he had a legitimate right to receive material support for his ministry, chose not to use it, so that nothing might hinder the gospel. If others partake of this right over you, don't we yet more? Paul asks. Nevertheless we didn't use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ. Paul had every right, grounded even in Scripture, to be supported by those he served; but he was willing to forgo that right, to bear the cost himself, so that no one could accuse him of preaching for money, and nothing would hinder the gospel. He gave up a legitimate right for the sake of the good news. This shows the willingness to forgo even my legitimate rights so as not to hinder the gospel or others. Show me what Paul did and why. He had a genuine right to material support, arguing for it even from Scripture. And yet he chose not to use this right, to bear the cost of his own support himself, so that nothing might hinder the gospel, so that no one could say he preached for money. He gave up a right he could rightly have claimed, for the sake of the gospel and those he served. This is a striking example of a love that forgoes even legitimate rights when claiming them would hinder the good news or harm others. I often insist on my rights, on what I am entitled to, and rightly so in many cases. But there are times when love, and the good of the gospel or of others, may call me to forgo even a legitimate right, to give up what I could rightly claim, for a higher good. Take that to my heart, for love may call me to forgo even my legitimate rights when insisting on them would hinder the gospel or harm others. Keep me from always insisting on my rights; help me hold them loosely enough to forgo them, Lord, when love and the gospel call for it, putting the good of others and Christ's cause above my own entitlements, as Paul gave up his right to support for the gospel's sake.