Our Rights by F. R. Richmond

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1875

Our Rights.

By F. R. Richmond

It is often remarked, even by those professing to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, that it is our privilege to stand up for our rights. Can we be justified in what is commonly called standing up for our rights? What rights have we? All we ever had were given us; but these have been forfeited by our transgression of the law of the Giver, and we are now entirely dependent for all we have upon Him who has humbled himself by leaving the realms of glory, taking upon himself our fallen nature, and dying in agony to restore what we had lost. In view, then, of our unworthiness and dependency, it behooves us to be very modest in asserting our rights.

We shall find that enjoyment of life is largely increased by submitting to others as occasion may seem to make it necessary, even though we may be sometimes wronged by so doing. Standing up for supposed rights has been the cause of much trouble in this world; it was the beginning of rebellion in the universe of God, whence there has sprung all the misery that surrounds us. Difficulties in families, hard feelings in neighborhoods, trials in churches, lawsuits, and wars, might be avoided if every individual would heed the injunction of Paul to the Philippians: “But in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

As there are many who have given themselves up to selfishness, and will not only contend for what belongs to them, but for all they can obtain, regardless of the sufferings of others, it will be impossible for a few to bring about a perfect state of peace and happiness in this world by yielding to others; but by doing so, the followers of Christ can at least be at peace among themselves, and, to a great extent, with the world. There would be no trouble caused by every one's persisting in having all that belongs to him, if he would contend for no more; but we cannot determine just how far our rights extend, especially as nearly all of us have more or less selfishness; and those who are determined to maintain their rights are apt to forget that others have rights as well as they.

If our affections are on things above, and not on things on the earth, we need not mind it when we are misused or “run over.” Look at the humiliation and submission of Jesus in his trial before Pilate and Herod; though his rights extended over the whole universe, and it was in his power to maintain them, he was led as “a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” Is it not required of us to follow his example? “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

The example of David in his dealings with Saul is worthy of imitation. Although David had been anointed king, and knew that the kingdom was his, he did nothing to wrench it from Saul, but suffered himself to be persecuted without retaliating when it was in his power to do so. Also the example of Paul, who says: “Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things.” In his sermon on the mount, the Saviour says: “But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”

If we could only realize the glory of the reward that awaits the righteous, and have our hearts fully in the work of preparing ourselves for it, and helping others to gain it, we would consider the affairs of this life of too little importance to receive much of our attention, nor would we waste our time in contending for what we might claim as our full share of them. Paul, in reproving the Corinthians for their disorderly course, says: “Now therefore there is utterly a

fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” There are similar teachings all through the New Testament, also in the Old; see Prov. 20:22; 24:29; Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:28–30; &c.

It may be trying for us to take it patiently when we are wronged; but there is a blessing for those who do so; and it will not be long before we shall receive that blessing, if we hold out to the end.

F. R. RICHMOND.

Brightwood, Mass.