The Right to Give Up Your Rights

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Matthew 17:24-27 (KJV)

They asked Peter if his Master, meaning Jesus, paid tribute, which was the temple tax. Peter told them yes. Jesus later asked Peter what he thought about paying taxes., using the example of earthly kings. He asked if those kings receive taxes from their children or strangers. Peter answered that they received them from strangers. Jesus then told him that they were free, but to pay it to avoid offending them. He told him to go fish and the first fish he caught would contain a coin with which he could pay the temple tax for both of them.

Why didn’t Jesus want to offend these men? It was because these were people He wanted to reach. He wanted to reach as many as possible. We must never compromise the Gospel, yet we can, at times, find common ground with people to reach them with the message of Christ. In this case, Jesus gave up His right to not pay taxes in order to reach people.

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. I Corinthians 9:19-23 (KJV)

Paul said he was free, but made himself a servant that he might reach more people. He said he was made all things to all men that he might save some. He was finding common ground with people to bring more of them into the Kingdom of God.

Jesus and Paul gave up their personal rights at times. They had the right to give up their rights. They were free to choose to do so, and they chose to win others over their own rights. We all have rights, but is it right to hold onto them when others are in bondage? Yes, we have the right to claim and hold onto our rights, but the higher road is to lay our lives down so others may live. In other words, it may be best to give up some of our rights in order to reach more people for Jesus. That’s called surrender. That’s called servanthood. That’s called being Christlike.

We don’t have to defend our rights. Let God defend you and fight for you. When we look out for others. God will look out for us. After all, Jesus laid down His rights, even His life, to make us righteous.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)