“Have we not power?” (1 Corinthians 9:4).

That question rings out again in the two verses following that one.

Paul makes his case that he does have the power (that is, authority and right) to do or not do certain things.

Then he declares in verse 12, “Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”

If you haven’t yet, check out verses 4-6 to clearly see what he was denying himself for the cause of the Gospel.

No, God doesn’t call all His people to deny themselves those specific things.

But He does call us all to deny ourselves.

I don’t want to hinder the Gospel either. I do want to deny myself, even to the point of leaving certain rights unclaimed.

I have a lot of work to do in that — a lot of surrendering.

But by His grace, I can. I will.

Rent. Food. Garden. Repairs. Vehicles. Furnishings. Clothes. Medicines. Glasses. Outtings. Chickens. Flowers.

On and on the list could go of things I care about or should care about. And they are all things of this world.

How spiritual is that?

It could be very spiritual, if it is done joyfully and unto the Lord with the intent of meeting my “husbandly” calling:

“But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife” (1 Corinthians 7:33).

Interestingly, the preceding verse declares this “single” obligation: Care for the things of the Lord and be pleasing to Him.”

Whether single or married, God allows no room for self-centeredness.

(I wonder if young women should use verse 32 to measure suitors to determine if they would make good “Verse 33” husbands.)