I Corinthians 9:19 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.
Earlier in this chapter, Paul goes to great lengths to review his spiritual history, and the "rights" he had as an apostle, and as a servant of God to receive both support to live on, and to be heard as an authoritative voice. But he was not demanding his rights, and often did not ask for what he was due. Why? Because what was most important to him was The Gospel. We need the same spirit. Much of the division and strife between Christians and church members is due to people demanding their rights, and if they do not get what they think they deserve, they will make a stink, make a disturbance, and walk away. We value the Gouspel too little. When we value the Gospel more than our rights, we realize the big word in the Gospel is Grace - God giving what we do NOT deserve, and we realize that the Person of the Gospel is Christ, not ourselves. Listen to yourself today. Are you saying, doing, or even thinking things that are all about demanding your "rights", (or desiring your wants) instead of furthering the Gospel toward those around you?
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