Note 17 at 1Co 8:13: Paul loved others more than himself (Ro 9:3). In these nonessential issues where he had liberty before God to do certain acts, he was willing to forgo his rights to reach others. In 1Co 9:4-6, 12, 14-15, and 20-23, he expanded on the things he had rights to do but had given up for the sake of the Gospel. Paul left us an example that "we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves" (Ro 15:1).