“I know my rights.” What exactly are our rights? In the Declaration of Independence, we read that we have been endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights: “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” What do we do with our rights? We claim them, defend them and never surrender them, right?
The Apostle Paul had the right to receive remuneration for his ministry. But he surrendered that right, willingly. In fact, he later says he is willing to become like a Jew to win Jews and to live like a Gentile to win them. He went to Jerusalem knowing he would likely lose his freedom. This incarceration brought him before Kings and the Emperor to share the gospel. Why would Paul surrender his rights? So that by all possible means he might save some. “I do all this for the sake of the gospel . . .” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).
For Paul, the standard of life was not claiming his own rights but surrendering them for the sake of the gospel. His words remind me of the Moravian Brethren missionaries who literally sold themselves into slavery so that they could have access to other slaves and preach the gospel to them. These servants of God gave up their rights for the higher good of leading people to Christ. What is our highest goal as Christians in a free country? To share the gospel!
What if sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ became our highest value? How would we live? I hear Christians today say, “We must defend our rights at all costs.” Actually, we must share Christ at all costs. If we had to give up our rights to do so, would we? The work of the church has never been to make the bad people leave the good people alone. Our work is to help people who are dead in their trespasses come to life in Christ. Jesus gave up his right to live and died on the cross to give us this opportunity. It cost Jesus everything. No wonder Paul was willing to surrender his rights to share that good news. Are we?
