I Have My Rights!

Daily Reading: 1 Corinthians 5-6

Scripture Focus: One brother goes to law against another – and this in front of unbelievers!  The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already.  Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. (1 Corinthians 6.6-8, NIV)

Devotional Thought: In America, we are steeped in the long-standing recognition of individual rights and freedoms: “I have my rights!”  This cultural phenomenon of personal rights has found its way into the Church.  American Christians are not alone in this tendency, nor is it strictly a 21^st century phenomenon.  In the 1^st century, the Corinthian Christians – no doubt those who were wealthy and privileged Roman citizens – insisted that their rights must be honored.  They allowed their personal rights to divide the church along socio-economic lines.  They even pushed their rights to the courtrooms of their culture, taking brothers and sisters to court.  I am not so naïve as to make a blanket statement about lawsuits, but I was drawn to the two questions in verse 7: “Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?”  Does that sound like an American virtue?  I know it cuts against my grain!

When, in the daily operations of the church, we are focused on our individual rights, we will find myriads of reasons to be divided.  We will be divided over music, the preacher’s style, the budget, the staff, even the color of the carpet or arrangement of the furniture!  If, however, we lay aside our own rights and seek the good of others, then we will promote unity. 

I like what the Apostle Paul had to say about our rights in the book of Philippians:

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself..." (Philippians 2.4-7).

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you laid aside your rights as the Son of God so that you could come and die on the cross for my sins.  I want to be like you in laying aside my rights for the good of your Church.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 109.26-31

26 Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love!

27 Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it!

28 Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.