1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1

23: All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. 
24: Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
25: Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake;
26: FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.
27: If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake.
28: But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;
29: I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?
30: If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

31: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32: Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
33: just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
1: Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

*** 

Paul concluded his answer regarding the eating of meat offered to idols. He repeated his prior comments from 1 Corinthians 6:12, that all things are lawful, but not everything is profitable or brings edification, so seek your neighbor’s good over your own.

Paul then gave practical advice. He said to eat what was sold in the market. if you are invited to eat by an unbeliever, go without asking whether the meat has been sacrificed to idols. Don’t bring it up. However, if someone tells you the meat was sacrificed to idols then don’t eat it for their sake, so it does not appear as if you worship idols or condone idol worship.

Whatever you end up doing, glorify God in all of it. Don’t do anything to cause anyone to stumble in their conscience toward the Lord, just as Paul had set the example in not seeking his own profit, but the benefit of others so they might be saved. Put another way, don’t give anyone fuel for the fire of accusations against you, don’t make it appear as if you agree with something that you don’t, and watch out for your brothers and sisters in Christ.

We’re not here to defend ourselves or make ourselves look good—flaunting our freedoms in Christ at the expense of others—but rather to glorify God and build His kingdom. As Jesus said, let your light shine in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). As we mature, our focus becomes about His glory and helping others, rather than our own privileges.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Galatians 1:1-10

1: Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2: and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4: who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5: to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. 6: I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7: which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9: As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10: For am I now see...
Read more

2 Corinthians 7:8-16

8: For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— 9: I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10: For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11: For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12: So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you i...
Read more

2 Corinthians 10:1-11

1: Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2: I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3: For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4: for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6: and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 7: You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8: For even if I boast somewh...
Read more