Selfless Love | Monday | July 27

Monday — July 27: Selfless Love

Bible Focus

• 1 Corinthians 9:1–23
• Acts 18:3
• 1 Timothy 5:18

Summary

• Love is willing to give up personal rights for the good of others.
• Paul had the right to receive support from the church because he was preaching the gospel.
• He also had the right to marry and travel with his wife while serving God.
• But Paul chose not to use these rights because he did not want anything to stand in the way of the gospel.
• He wanted people to trust the message about Jesus, not question his motives.
• Paul was living the same lesson he had just taught about putting love before personal freedom.
• Jesus also calls us to think about how our choices affect the faith of other people.
• Sometimes love means giving up something we are free to do so that someone else can come closer to Christ.
• Ask God to help you value the spread of the gospel more than your own comfort, rights, or personal gain.

Question

• Why did Paul give up some of his rights?

Answer

• Paul gave up his rights because he loved Christ and wanted nothing to prevent people from accepting the gospel.

Reflection

• What right, comfort, or personal preference might God be asking me to surrender so that someone else can know Jesus?

Takeaway

• True love puts the gospel first and gladly gives up personal rights to help others find Christ.