The Right To Sacrifice

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.

1 Corinthians 10:23

One of the biggest issues facing lawmakers today is whether there should be limits on damages awarded in lawsuits where injury has occurred. Opponents of tort reform say it’s impossible to place a limitation of value on personal injury. Proponents say the lack of limits is driving doctors out of business, since they can’t afford the premiums on malpractice insurance.

Whose rights are more important? A citizen’s right not to be permanently injured? A doctor’s right not to be driven out of business? A lawyer’s right to profit? Or a jury’s right to decide what’s “right”? The pursuit of rights has made America the most litigious society in the world. What ever happened to people giving up their rights for a greater good?

The apostle Paul said everything is “lawful,” but not everything is helpful. For instance, Paul had the right to be paid by those he served. But he gave up that right, and others, for the sake of spreading the gospel without criticism from others. Look at your rights and see if limiting them would give you a greater voice with those you seek to serve.

A right is only a right until we discover it makes us wrong.