Why not rather be wronged? Wouldn’t You Rather 1 Corinthians 6:7 Why not rather be wronged?

1 Corinthians 9 (NLT) 4 Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 5 Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?... 11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ…

1 Corinthians 9 (NLT) 17 If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. 18 What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News. 19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ… 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Why not rather be wronged? Wouldn’t You Rather 1 Corinthians 6:7 Why not rather be wronged?

Why not rather be wronged? Wouldn’t You Rather “There appears to be an automatic and deeply rooted sense that if I've been mistreated or let down or hurt, then the other person deserves to be shown up and brought to justice, and paid back, and therefore I have the right to make sure that happens and I can use criticism or slander or put-downs or threats or grudges to make sure they get their comeuppance.” – John Piper 1 Corinthians 6:7 Why not rather be wronged?

Have no short term memory Be unable to shower for 2 weeks but have clean clothes daily Have no short term memory Be able to shower daily but unable to change your clothes for 2 weeks Have no long term memory

Be cheated; Be limited; Be Restrained Be wronged? 6:6 But instead, one brother takes another to court -and this in front of unbelievers! 7 Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?  8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. 9:12 But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

6:1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? … 5 Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! 7 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? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

Be Cheated OR Hinder Jesus? Would You Rather… Be Cheated OR Hinder Jesus? 6:6 But instead, one brother takes another to court -and this in front of unbelievers! 7 Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?  When it comes to your offenses… Banish Your Beef!

8:4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”… 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Be Limited OR Hinder Jesus? Would You Rather… Be Limited OR Hinder Jesus? 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block… 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall. When it comes to your freedoms… Loose Your Lamb!

9:4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink 9:4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?... 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?  But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ… 15 I have not used any of these rights… 18 That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News… 22 I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 

Be Restrained OR Hinder Jesus? Would You Rather… Be Restrained OR Hinder Jesus? 9:12 But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ When it comes to your rights… Put Off Your Privilege!

Wouldn’t You Rather Be Cheated (banish your beef) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Limited (loose your lamb) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Restrained (put off your priv.) 6:7 Why not rather be wronged?

Wouldn’t You Rather Be Cheated (banish your beef) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Limited (loose your lamb) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Restrained (put off your priv.) Recognize there is a choice 6:7 Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block 9:12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right.

Wouldn’t You Rather Be Cheated (banish your beef) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Limited (loose your lamb) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Restrained (put off your priv.) Focus on the better 8:3 But whoever loves God is known by God. 9:23  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 9:25  They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Wouldn’t You Rather Be Cheated (banish your beef) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Limited (loose your lamb) Wouldn’t You Rather Be Restrained (put off your priv.) Bring the wrong to God Psalm 140:1 Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;     protect me from the violent… 10 May burning coals fall on them;     may they be thrown into the fire,     into miry pits, never to rise… 12 I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor     and upholds the cause of the needy.

Wouldn’t you rather be wronged? 1 Corinthians 6:7 Wouldn’t you rather be wronged? Be Cheated - banish your beef (offenses) Be Limited - loose your lamb (freedoms) Be Restrained – put off your privilege (rights) BY Recognizing there is a choice Focusing on what is better Bringing the wrong to God