Is it always right to stand up for your rights?

Is it always right to stand up for your rights? Let me illustrate this point with a story (from some korean drama)

The main protagonist of the story was a police officer.

One day, he recieved a call from a minimart owner reporting a shop lifting case. He went down to the minimart to manage the situation. When he got there, he witnessed a moral dilemma.

The lady who was caught shop lifting actually attempted to steal 3 tins of powdered milk. When the officer arrived, the shop lifter lady was begging the shop owner to let it go... she was in tears and looking very pathetic... she begged the shop owner to just let her go back to her starving baby.. she was too poor to afford milk to feed her baby...

Yet, the shop owner's reply (as you grabbed the emaciated wrist of the other lady) was as such, "You are not the only poor mother in Korea, if every one of you poor mothers come to MY shop to steal MY milk, how am I going to afford it? Think about me. I need to make a living too."

The inspector was caught in a moral dilemma... But he was kind and wise. He paid the shop owner for the milk and on top of that added a few other food items... The shop owner was satisfied and decided to drop the matter... And the poor crying mother? She was not only grateful that she didn't get caught... she was so happy that she had food to feed her baby....

Moral of the story?

The shop owner wasn't wrong at all... She was asserting her right to a crime free society.. when the lady stole milk from her... she violated the shopower's rights... And in a way, disrespected the shop owner.. the shop owner had every right to convict her...

Yes, from a by stander's point of view... the shop owner might seem like some heartless freak incapable of any bit of charity... but think about it... what she said was right too.. if she let this woman have her way.. what if the word spreads around? Her shop might turn into some non-profit charity give away instead of a commercial shop... It's true...

So what she did was not entirely wrong... It was not wrong.. but it was not princely behavior.. Prince and princesses of God give out of excess... they are always keenly aware of God's love on them... They are always quick to give and slow to anger... Because they know that whatever they give, God will replace them... and most of the time.. more than they give... So, they won't hesistate... They are generous givers... and in the process.. they themselves are refreshed..

The Shopowner's reaction was not princely behavior... It came out of a keen awareness of lack... It is not difficult to spot people like the shopowner.. They are always on their toes.. keenly aware and afraid of others taking advantage of them.. All these behavior come out of a keen awareness of lack.. they feel they already have not enough... And it will be folly to give out this 'not-enough' to others... They have their own family to feed... It's not only about themselves...

Therefore, to fix this kind of awareness of lack... and constant fear of victimisation, we should meditate on the following story from the bible...

"Look at the birds, they neither sow nor reap.. but they are fed each day by our heavenly father... How much more will our heavenly father feed us.. he who loved us so much that he sent his beloved son to die for us..." Trust in the LORD to feed you and your family... and he does so freshly each day... Just like the birds, you will always be provided for... be keenly aware of God's love and tenderness for you...

This way, you will be a generous giver.. and when the time comes when you can either forgive an offense or persecute it.. I hope you forgive it... for A man's wisdom gives him patience;it is to his glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)... It shows how big-hearted you are.. and how much you are aware of God's love for you...