In 1775, Christopher Gadsden designed a flag that encapsulated well the predominant attitude of the American colonists as they felt their rights were being trampled on by the British crown. Gadsden’s yellow flag, with the picture of a coiled rattlesnake and the words, “Don’t tread on me,” communicated a message about rights. Those who flew the flag proclaimed their rights, but also warned those who sought to infringe those rights; they would not be given up without a fight. Sadly, many Christians view their Christian liberty in the same way as those who fly the Gadsden flag. In the church, there is to be a willingness to lay down our rights because we love Jesus and his bride more than we love our freedom.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Galatians 5:13–14
Paul practices what he preaches (1-14).
In chapter 9, Paul uses himself as an example of one who lays down his rights because of love. He is willing to “never eat meat” (8:13), nor receive financial and material things from those he ministers to (chapter 9). Paul, like any other Christian, is free. Paul’s apostleship does not mean he lacks the same freedom as those in Corinth (1-2). He has the right to eat and drink (4), the right to marry (5), and the right to make a living by the gospel (6).
Just as soldiers get paid, farmers harvest a crop, and those who care for flocks get the milk (7), so Paul is free to earn a living by the gospel. This is the way God has designed the world. Beyond a creational design, the law of God also sets out this principle (8-10). Even oxen, as they tread out the grain, are not muzzled, and this principle extends beyond care for animals. The priests and Levites who served in the temple received what they needed to live as the people brought their sacrifices (13). Just like the priests and Levites, “the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (14). Paul has the right to reap material things from the Corinthians (11), and yet he does not. Why? He relinquishes this right out of love for those he ministers to. He says in verse 12, “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.”
Paul’s Reward (15-18)
Paul does not preach the gospel for financial gain.. No minister of the gospel should be motivated by financial gain (“not a lover of money,” 1 Tim. 3:3). Paul is not bringing up his right to make his living by the gospel because he now wants to exercise that right (15). Paul does not seek to get his living by the gospel, for that would “deprive me of my ground for boasting” (15).
Paul’s boast is not that he preaches the gospel—everyone is to do that (16-17). Paul’s boast is that he does so “free of charge” (18). As one commentator put it, “This is a way to demonstrate that he is ‘all in’ as he heralds the gospel” (Naselli, 299). Paul could never be accused of preaching the gospel for dishonest gain. He labored with his hands, just like the Corinthians did, and still devoted his life entirely to the Lord. If Paul lived this way, so could the Corinthians.
Paul demonstrates that the reward for giving up our rights is far greater than enjoying our rights. This is even more true when our freedom may hurt other Christians, or hinder the advancement of the gospel. At this point, you may have questions about laying down rights; I do. Questions like: “If I lay down my rights, does that make me a doormat for others to walk over? If I lay down my rights, then don’t I miss out on something good that I could enjoy or benefit from?” Paul answers these potential questions by helping us see that what we get from laying down our rights is far better than what we get by exercising our rights.
Gospel Blessings (19-23)
In chapter 8, we saw that you do not really know theology unless it humbles you. Here, we see that you do not really understand Christian freedom unless it leads to service. “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (19). Paul’s freedom resulted in service. He laid down his rights and liberties for the sake of others. When ministering to the Jews, he would not eat like a Gentile. This was not duplicitous, but was intended for him to more effectively share the gospel with them, without becoming an obstacle to the gospel himself. The same is true in his ministry to Gentiles. In that context, he would not live under the obligations of Jewish law. This he was free to do because he was under the law of Christ, even though he was still Jewish. “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (22).
Why does Paul so willingly, freely, and even joyfully lay down his rights? First, it is for the salvation of those to whom he ministers. But more than that, in ministering the gospel to others, Paul shares in its blessings (23). The blessing he shares in is salvation. This is why a better translation of verse 23 might be, “I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it” (NASB). The issue is not that Paul is not already a partaker of the gospel, or that he might not persevere to the end, but rather, he is to continue progressing in the gospel. As he ministers the gospel, he grows in it. The Christian is to grow, striving for the prize. (Paul will continue this theme in verse 24 and following.)
Paul is living the life Jesus calls his disciples to live, a life of self-denial to gain true life. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:34–38).
Conclusion
In the church, there will always be disputable matters that arise. These will be varied and different in each church context. However, there are principles demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 8-9 that should govern all Christian relationships: humility, love, seeking the good of others, and the centrality of the gospel. Paul loves Jesus and people more than he loves his rights, and we are called to adopt this same attitude.