The Five Whys Technique was developed by Sakichi Toyoda, the Japanese founder of Toyota Industries, to solve problems. The method is simple: when a problem occurs, you drill down to its root cause by asking ″Why?″ five times.

Let's imagine you are on a diet, but one evening you eat pizza. On the surface, the problem was departing from the diet, but after asking five ″whys″ you discover the real issue-you're tired from sleeping late! Beneath every problem is a root cause.

The problem in Corinth appears to be about the consumption of food that has been sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 8:1). As followers of Jesus, should they eat it or not? Paul, however, turns to the real issue: the Corinthian Christians have the freedom to eat all foods, but what will they do with this freedom? Will they insist on exercising it, and potentially lead ″weaker″ Christians into sin? Or will they forsake their freedom, give up their ″right″, and voluntarily restrain themselves for the sake of their brothers and sisters?

Paul cleverly uses himself as an example to show them how, for the sake of the gospel, believers could look beyond their rights. He asks them: Doesn't he, as an apostle, have the ″right″ to financial support or to marriage? (9:1-2, 4-6). Soldiers are supported, farmers help themselves to milk (v. 7), and the Old Testament even allowed oxen to eat as they worked (v. 9). If Paul has sown ″spiritual seed″ among them (v. 11), doesn't he have ″this right of support″ (v. 12) from them? Anyone reading this would have been bound to agree.

But-and here's the killer blow-Paul ″did not use this right″ (v. 12). When he first came to preach the gospel to the Corinthians, he did not accept payment from the Corinthians. Instead, Paul worked for his living as a leather worker (see Acts 18:3), for he didn't want to ″hinder the gospel of Christ″ (1 Corinthians 9:12) by being accused of preaching Jesus for the money. Even the priests in the Old Testament were supported by the people, so Paul could have been too (vv. 13-14). But, he laid down that right (v. 15). The Corinthians, who claim to know so much, need to look at Paul again and learn from his example.

Dear Lord, teach me to look beyond my rights, and give me the grace to be willing to give them up for the sake of Your gospel and for others in love.