These two chapters, where Paul teaches that we should not insist on our liberty if it causes others to sin, and that even though he as every right to be supported materially as one who ministers to the believers, and that he becomes what he needs to be in order to reach both Jew and Gentile with the message of the gospel, have one central thought. That thought is this: As believers and followers of Jesus, we must not consider ourselves first. We must look to the spiritual welfare of those around us. We must not insist on our own rights if doing so will cause others to sin or bring reproach upon the cause of Christ.

After all, Jesus gave up everything in order to bring salvation to mankind. He had the absolute right to stay in the glories of Heaven and let you and me suffer and die an eternal death because of our sins. The wages of sin is death. Instead, He gave it all up to become one of us, so that He could live the perfect life that none of us could, in order to purchase our freedom from death and eternal life with God.

How could we be so selfish as to insist on our own rights, when He gave up so much for us?