1st Corinthians Chapter
Ten
Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 1. "Moreover, brethren, I do not
want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all
passed through the sea,"
The reference, of course, is Israel. Imagine how they must have felt
with all that water piled up on both sides, and the bottom of the sea
was DRY when they walked on it. And then, when their enemies tried the
same thing, the waters collapsed on them, and they drowned! And the
cloud! This enormous thing that was a cloud by day and FIRE by night,
and it would actually lead them around! Further, as it said in Exodus
16:10, the "Glory of the Lord" would appear in that cloud.
I am amazed, as I read about them, that they could have such
experiences and yet still be riddled with unbelief, with sin; as we will
see in the next few verses. To have had religious experiences is simply
not enough. To be raised in a religious home is not sufficient. To be
exposed to so MUCH and to receive so little. I am still amazed that I
received Christ so dramatically (when I was a teenager) --- He touched
me with such JOY, and yet I still fell away, literally ran away from
Him! I don’t know about you, but I must keep my eyes upon Him. I must
LOOK to Him. Mere experiences won’t save us --- only HE can save you
and me..
Verse 2. "all were baptized into Moses
in the cloud and in the sea,"
These people all had a common experience in the Lord. Millions of
people witnessing first hand, the Glory and Wonder of God, and yet,
apparently only a handful were really true to our Lord. So much
religion in the world, so little faith. Moses, of course, was true to
Him, and so was Joshua and yes, Caleb. What about Aaron? I’m not sure -
first chance he got, he was involved in the golden calf incident. At a
Convalescent home in Long Beach, I taught on Matthew 19. The last verse
(v. 30) ends with the stern warning: "Many who are first will be last,
and the last first." Our perceptions about the spiritual condition of
the people around us, indeed, even of ourselves, are hopelessly flawed.
C. S. Lewis said we are "bent" in our understanding. We see but we do
not understand. Perhaps we do not WANT to understand.
All of them were "baptized" into Moses. To be "baptized" is to
accept death to the ways of this world and is a public acknowledgment
that, in Christ, we are now alive in another. Dead to the world, alive
to God. We symbolize that experience in water baptism. Israel
experienced the living Presence of God in the fire and cloud and in the
Red Sea. They were to end "normal" lives (lives of sin) and were to
live according to the holiness of God. ALL were given the opportunity
to receive Him. "If only I could SEE God," people say, "THEN I would
believe." Here’s a whole nation of people who were personally exposed
to the miracles of God --- They were physically saved by those miracles,
and yet, almost to a person, they did not believe. Miracles are good,
but not enough. We need the Holy Spirit of God, given to those who
receive Christ Jesus.
Verse 3. "all ate the same spiritual
food,"
Sometimes on the weekend, I have grumbled something like "oh, nuts, I
have to go grocery shopping!" The rewards of grocery shopping are
obvious: You receive vegetables and fruits, cereals --- whatever food
you are willing to pay for. And yet, after being out all week, you
have to be out again! How would you like to simply walk out your front
door and pick up something that was left there during the night? I’m
talking about something wonderful, tasting like nuts and honey.
(Sounds like a commercial). The "manna" they ate ("manna" simply means
"what is it?" --- nobody had ever seen anything like it before) was
nutritious and tasty and could be cooked in a variety of ways. All ate
the same --- and even though it was sufficient and tasted good, it
wasn’t enough for them. As one who suffered financial deprivation
(though God provided for us) for many years, I can personally testify
that the root problem of dissatisfaction is pride --- We want to do it
ourselves. We want to provide for ourselves, not receive some kind of
"aid." And yet spiritually we need aid --- just like the hungry need
bread and thirsty people require water. Jesus was clear that He is our
bread and He will satisfy our every need.
Verse 4. "and all drank the same spiritual
drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and
that Rock was Christ."
There was a Jewish fable that a rock rolled along with the advancing
camp of Israel through the wilderness, and that at the chant of the
chiefs "Spring up, O well," water would gush from it. There is no
serious reason to think that Paul might be referring to that, even
though he probably heard the fable as a child. It is sufficient to
recognize that, on at least two occasions, Jehovah God caused water to
pour from solid rock to satisfy the thirst of His people. Jesus is the
Rock of our salvation; He is Jehovah God, the Rock of eternal ages and
our thirst is satisfied in Him.
Verse 5. "But with most of them God was
not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness."
These people that were saved by God from Egypt, also dropped like
flies during their forty years in the wilderness. They rebelled against
everything. When they weren’t building golden calves, they were
complaining about the manna. They didn’t like Moses at times and wanted
to go back to the "leeks and garlic" of Egypt. I had twenty years of
financial need; me and my family. Twenty years where, no matter how
hard or smart I tried, nothing worked out. Companies went out of
business after I went to work for them and I began to think I was some
kind of "jinx" who should avoid other people for their own good. It is
very hard to learn to trust in God --- and yet the rewards of learning
to trust in Him are incomparable and beyond any happiness the world may
pretend to offer. Don’t ever go back! Turn to Him and stay securely in
His arms.
Verse 6. "Now these things became our
examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as
they also lusted."
What, after all, is Israel to us? I mean, they lived thousands of
years ago, in a society much different than ours --- What could they
possibly have to say to us? The answer is, they have EVERYTHING to say
to us. They were not different at all --- they were just as
disturbingly human as we are. If they were prone to fall, so are we.
The point is not whether we wear sandals or loafers with tassels, wear
robes or instead wear slacks, or whether we speak Hebrew or English.
Their needs and their faults are just like ours. If we are smart, we
take a hard look into the peoples of the Old Testament and pray to God
that we might be delivered from the sins that so easily beset the people
of Israel. For we are sinners, too.
Verse 7. "And do not become idolaters
as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play.’"
This is a direct reference to Exodus 32:6. Moses was up on the
mountain, receiving the tablets of stone, written with the finger of
God. At the same time, Aaron and the others were fashioning the golden
calf. It was tiring work, but they "rose early the next day, offered
burnt offerings (to it) and the people sat down to eat and drink, and
rose up to play." We get tired on our jobs, too tired to go shopping
with our wives or attend our children’s football games or recitals.
It’s tiring to do so much that OTHERS want us to do. Yet, we somehow
get this strange energy when we do something WE want to do. I get
really alert when it’s MY hobby (not hers). Idolatry is so subtle ---
it’s just what WE do that takes the place of what God is doing in our
lives. Instead of the touch of God, we substitute our own works.
Notice that Exodus 32 (the context) is a point in time when a people
realized their dream! They were no longer in slavery, no longer had to
work inhumanly hard, and their enemies were gone! Who delivered them?
God. You might think you would turn to Him and stay with Him, if only
He would do this or that in your life. It doesn't tend to work like
that. It isn't realizing our outward dream that will satisfy us --- We
need HIM. Only He can satisfy that need in your heart.
Verse 8. "Nor let us commit sexual
immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand
fell;"
"It’s OK" he whispers to her, "it’s so beautiful - nothing is wrong…"
and yet she knows (and he knows, too) that it is wrong. God loves
marriage: In Malachi (chapter 2), God points out that they (we) "cover
the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and crying" (verse 13)
and yet (strangely) He does not answer or respond. You ask (verse 14)
"for what reason?’ - "Because the Lord has been witness between you and
the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously." In
Hebrews (13:4) He teaches us, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the
bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." God, who
created marriage, shows His love for us, in that He loves marriage and
gives this great gift to His people.
You may say adultery and fornication are "victimless crimes." Wrong
--- Yes, you sin against your spouse when you risk bringing disease into
your home, even to the possibility of cervical cancer. Yes, you cheapen
the relationship and are a terribly poor example for your children.
But, most of all, you sin against God, who gave you to her and her to
you.
Verse 9. "nor let us tempt Christ, as
some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;"
I think these "serpents" weave a fascinating little saga in
Scripture, and tell us a lot about people. It started in Numbers 21.
The people had been speaking against God and Moses yet again! (Notice
that to speak against someone can be to "tempt Christ" - let’s be slow
to speak against people). And, verse 6, the Lord sent fiery (their
bites HURT) serpents among them, which bit them and many died. The
survivors rushed to Moses and said "we have sinned" (battlefield
conversions). The Lord told Moses to "make a fiery (bronze) serpent and
set it on a pole…everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall
live." Undoubtedly many looked. I have known many stubborn people (and
I have been one of them). I wonder if many refused to look before they
died?
Later on (II Kings 18:4) King Hezekiah of Judah deliberately broke
the thing (the serpent) into pieces, because the people now called it "Nehushtan"
("bronze thing"), and burned incense to it. How often we miss the point
--- We are saved by God in Christ and yet we look to something else,
like baptism or faithfulness in Church attendance as the "reality" of
our salvation. Everything is summed up in what Christ did for us. It
isn’t the ceremony or outward "faithfulness" (don’t get me wrong, we ARE
saved to a life of sanctification) - it’s Him we Need. He does
it all!
Finally, we see the close of the "serpent" saga in John 3, and this
is the most incredible of all: Jesus identified Himself with that
serpent! Way back in the beginning of His ministry on earth, in a
conversation with the Pharisee Nicodemus, Jesus said "as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of
Man be lifted up, that (John 3:14-15)
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
He (Jesus) Who knew no sin, become sin for us that we might live. All
we have to do is LOOK to Him, and we shall LIVE. Hallelujah! Praise
the Lord!
Verse 10. "nor murmur, as some of them
also murmured, and were destroyed by the destroyer."
Look into your heart: What is your DISCONTENT today? We might look
fine on the outside, but inside, where only you (and also your Lord) can
see, what is troubling You? I recommend that you go directly to Him!
Take your troubles to Jesus and SEE if He does not set you free! Free
from your circumstances? Maybe, maybe not, but He WILL set you free
from your discontent.
I have known people with healthy bodies (and fine minds) who are
FILLED with discontent. I have known those with cerebral palsy and all
sorts of other problems, who are bitter and angry --- but also other
people with such severe problems who are happier than I am. If we are
bitter, it is a "murmuring" that is set loose in our hearts. We kid
ourselves if we think our inward bitterness and discontent is not
noticed by God. And He WILL Judge this sin --- not because He is
annoyed with us, but because He LOVES us in that He will cleanse us from
all sin. No matter WHAT your circumstances, turn to Him in your trouble
--- today!
Verse 11. "Now all these things
happened to them as examples and they were written for our admonition,
on whom the ends of the ages have come."
Years ago, when I first read the Bible (and before I finally prayed
for understanding), I misunderstood it all. All I saw in
Scripture was the violence, the murder, thievery, adultery, war - all
the things I wanted GONE from my OWN life. I did not understand that
all these people were there in Scripture for MY example (and yours),
that we might LEARN from that which has gone before. David’s mistakes,
Job’s experience, Moses’ example of leadership, Gideon’s cowardice (and
God’s remedy) --- all is there for you and for me. Peter continued to
have difficulty in understanding, even after he received the baptism in
the Holy Spirit - So, we can be comforted when we have the same
difficulty. I understand, in the Power of my Lord, that the Bible is
for RIGHT NOW, for today, for you, and even for me.
Verse 12. "Therefore let him who thinks
he stands take heed lest he fall.
I know how weak I am, so a part of me is not surprised, but another
part is ASTONISHED that I fell away from the Lord, so many years ago. I
went so profoundly into sin, galloped into trouble --- what a mess. I
thought I had it all, and then I fell.
I have been walking in the evenings for awhile, with a group from the
church. We have worked our way up from two to four miles a night. On
the nights I would be alone because no one else can go, I have taken to
bringing along my mother’s Chihuahua. He pulls against the chain as we
walk, which chafes his neck. When another walker or a bicycle is on the
path, he nearly kills us both by running between my legs to either hide
from them or, for some reason, run at them. He pulls against my control
of him so much, that, as we cross the road, we have trouble getting to
the other side. His problem is a lack of trust that I know where I am
going (he may have something there). It has begun to occur to me that
this is like a little parable of the many times I "pull against the
chain" as my Lord tries to lead me through. I need to simply trust in
Him, and yet, like little Timmy the dog seems to imply, "watch out,
there’s some one there; watch it, Ron, there’s another dog; a bike, Ron,
don’t you see? As if I didn’t – as if the Lord didn’t see --- He DOES
see, and He will bring us through.
Verse 13. "No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not
allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to
bear it."
This Scripture says pretty much we were just saying - God WILL bring
us through. Yet, it does NOT say what I have so often heard preachers
SAY it means. That is, they often teach from this that no TROUBLE will
happen in your life more than you can stand it. It doesn’t say
"trouble," it says "temptation" or "testing." That is, I do not need to
be swept away into sin anymore, for God, through the Holy Spirit that is
within me (and you, if you are in Him, and He in you), has given you the
ability to endure temptation and not fall into sin. If you fall, and I
fall, when we are in Christ, it is because we have become like little
Timmy the dog, failing to trust in the reality that God will bring us
through.
You may be interested in at least some of the reasons why I believe
this refers to temptation, rather than the "trouble" taught by many ---
Partly it’s because of what’s happening to me. God seems to be
gradually building safeguards in my life to prevent my falling away
again. And I have been in circumstances of trouble that have by far
overwhelmed any ability I have to endure them. The trouble has brought
me closer to Him. I have heard it said "God always comes through at the
eleventh hour." Well, I’ve seen Him come after midnight --- at three in
the morning, or six months later! It isn’t the circumstances, it’s our
need to TRUST in Him - He WILL bring us through!
Another reason is Paul the Apostle. Read II Corinthians, chapter 1.
Paul, who wrote 1 Cor. 10:13, says that he was overwhelmed by trouble in
his next letter. He also tells us some of the reasons troubles come to
us: II Cor. 1:6, "If we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and
salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we
also suffer…" In verse 8, Paul says "we do not want you to be ignorant,
brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened
beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life,
(verse 9), yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we
should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead." Here’s
another reason we experience suffering: That we might learn to trust in
God!
Trouble does come, but God is greater than our trouble.
Verse 14. "Therefore, my beloved, flee
from idolatry."
Revelation 9:20, where it says, "the rest of mankind, who were not
killed by these plagues (there’s gonna’ be trouble in them days), did
not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship
demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can
neither see nor hear nor walk." Reading that, I get the impression,
that in the future, literal idolatry (worship of man-made images) will
return to our world. I hope the pre-trib rapture is 100% doctrinally
right and God lifts us out of here before that time, for it sounds like
things are going to get incredibly bad.
Obviously, idolatry also includes any activity that we put ahead of
God in our lives, and therefore in a definite way, idolatry is already
widespread in the land; but things are going to get worse --- You know,
we need to come very close to our God. My friend, give yourself to Him
today, through the power and love of Jesus Christ, for things are going
to be much more difficult in the future. You need him more than you
know.
Verse 15. "I speak as to wise men;
judge for yourselves what I say."
You are intelligent people. You can talk, and reason and think.
Read Romans 1: In verse 20, we are reminded that God’s invisible
attributes are clearly seen in His creation. The more we see of the
macrocosm and microcosm, the more complex we understand everything
really is. Creation is so complex and it is impossible, as Einstein
clearly stated, even laughable that all this happened without a God. If
you are truly wise, turn to God. Our relationship with Him is
experiential. That is, a good scientist will tell you that a good
hypothesis, even a fine theory is not enough --- you must be willing to
put your belief to the test, in a valid experiment. Scripture says
"taste and see that the Lord is good." How do you know salt is salty
until you try some? I was surprised that when I reached out to God in
prayer, there He was, waiting for me. He is REAL - give yourself to Him
and you’ll be glad you did! I’m glad I did, and I’m a "tough sell" for
anything.
Verse 16. "The cup of blessing which we
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which
we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"
Now days, we don’t have pillars of fire and cloud with us, indicating
to us where we should go. And recently, as we sat together and looked
at the ocean, it did not open up so that we could walk through it. What
we have is the reality of what all those things in the desert pointed
ahead to in history. The future to them is the past to us --- we have
literal communion with our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If He
is the rock that followed them in the desert, if Almighty God was in
their midst, doing signs and wonders, how much more we have Him in our
lives, because He is not only WITH us, but also IN us as well.
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see the miracles that were
happening to these people. But the reality of the Risen Lord in my life
is worth far more than any simply outward miracle. We are made ALIVE in
Him.
"Communion" in a Church is very nice. I like to take Communion and
would like to do so even more often. But I also realize that Communion
is a parable, a lesson taught to us in picture form, much like baptism
is a parable or picture, showing us something much deeper. "Communion"
in English means "an instance or act of sharing." It is from the Greek
"Koinonia", denoting a partnership, the share we have in something;
fellowship, and participation. To be saved, to have communion with Him
--- these are not just acts we do in a Church --- this is the living
reality of our relationship with Christ Jesus, based on what He has done
for you and for me.
Verse 17. "For we, being many, are one
bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread."
And we become ONE in Him. A lot of times we tend to focus on our
differences. I worship this way, and you that way. I believe this and
you believe that. It’s all like the mist that disappears in the
morning, compared to the Reality of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ.
That was His prayer, in John 17, that you and I might be "one"
in Him. And we are one in Him. What counts, in you and in me, is the
Risen Savior. I love you, and I hope you can find love, even for me.
Verse 18. Observe Israel after the
flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?"
Paul has mentioned this before. The priests received the sacrifices,
blessed them, offered them, and ate of them as well. We are His priests
(1 Peter 2:5), called His "holy priesthood, offering up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Just like Paul
says, we partake of Him, and we freely eat of that which is given to
us. Jesus is the "bread of life" (John
6:48).
Israel was the model --- those who ate of the sacrifices also could
eat of that which was blessed on the altar. We can look at those men,
see in our minds that altar, and KNOW (understand) that we are partakers
in all that God has promised us in Jesus Christ.
Verse 19. "What am I saying then? That
an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?"
Actually, an "idol" is nothing at all. Even the more recent versions
of modern dictionaries refer to "idols" as: "a false god; pretender,
impostor; a form or appearance visible but without
substance…phantom…lifeless…a false conception, fallacy." The rock or
wood or metal fashioned into an idolatrous shape is really nothing
whatsoever. So, do we say, "oh well, it’s nothing, right? So we can
wear the little Buddha around my neck and who cares? Didn’t you say it
was nothing?"
What we wear is a partial revelation of what we are. We send a
message to other people by what we wear and what we do. You are not
only responsible for your own conduct before God but are also very
responsible for the direction in which you lead others. You say, "I’m
not leading anybody!" Oh yes you are. We all lead by the subtle
messages we send. The words on our T-shirt, the medals we wear, the
words that come from our mouths, what we DON’T say --- all we do and
wear and say potentially influences others, for good or for bad.
Verse 20. "But I say that the things
which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God,
and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons."
Now comes the extra catch. There really are demons in the world.
Whatever you call them, fallen angels, demonic spirits, sprites, imps,
whatever --- There are non-physical (in our world) creatures that just
love it when we deviate from the simple path that leads us to our
Savior, Jesus Christ. There really only two paths in the world --- the
road that leads us to faith in Christ Jesus, and another road leading us
away from Him, into unbelief. If you go to a Unitarian "Church" that
teaches some kind of humanistic approach to religion; Or, if you enter
and remain in a Shinto Temple; If you assume the lotus position in a
Hindu monastery, it is even worse than idolatry, for you are potentially
entering into actual fellowship with demonic forces that don’t like you
at all, and will destroy you if they can.
Jesus Christ loves you, and has even given HIS life for you, that you
might be saved.
Verse 21. "You cannot drink the cup of
the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table
and of the table of demons."
We have to choose. So often, we try to be "fair" or "impartial." We
try to sit on the fence. We don’t want to offend anybody. I know I
don’t want to offend, but I have been learning that it is impossible to
please everybody. When I try, I seem to end up annoying just about
everybody in sight. So, right now, I choose to follow my Lord. What
does that mean, to "Follow the Lord?" Well first, it means to genuinely
give ourselves to Christ Jesus. To accept Him and His sacrifice. It
means to give myself to His will, even before my own. On what ground?
On the ground that I have seen in Scripture and I have seen in my life,
that when I place MY will first, it leads me to ruin --- underneath it
all, most people don’t like themselves very much, and therefore we are
likely to eventually undermine ourselves in some way or another. Also,
MY way, leads to pride, and pride leads to a big fall.
"Following the Lord" means that we give ourselves unreservedly to
Him. Trusting that He loves us and will work out circumstances that
are the very best possible. What if I follow Him and get cancer? Lose
my job? My spouse leaves me? What if I’m not perfectly happy when I
follow Him?
I’ve had 27 years of attempting to follow Him, which came after 33
years of trying to do it on my own. I can personally testify that I
would rather lose everything than lose Him. I never again want to live
even a second outside of His Presence. I love Him, and most of all, He
loves me, even me. He has demonstrated and proved this to me, over and
over again. Follow Him in EVERYTHING --- Don’t try to live partly in
this world and partly in another. What did He say to Laodicia whose
works were neither cold nor hot? -- "I will (Revelation 3:15-16) spit
you out of My mouth!"
Verse 22. "Or do we provoke the Lord to
jealousy? Are we stronger than He?"
We tend to see "jealousy" as a negative thing. We see the jealous
person as possessive, angry and selfish. As jealous humans, that is
often precisely the way we are. But we are not talking about a jealous
human, we are talking about the God who loves us.
The Greek word "parazeloo" used here, is also found in Romans 10:19
and 11:11, referring to God’s dealings with Israel in relation to his
mercy to the Gentiles. The intention of God’s jealousy is to stir you
to see your need for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. His
"jealousy" is because He loves you. He sees the harm you cause yourself
and others, by trying to be fully a part of this world. I want to be
"turned-on" to what is around me but I first want to fully belong to
Him.
His jealousy is just like the concern of the parent who does not want
their two-year old to run out into the street. He wants to save us from
that which WILL cause us harm. I am "jealous" for my children, that
they might be happy. I am jealous for my children in relation to anyone
who would hurt them. If you hurt them, you hurt me, because I love
them. That is the kind of jealousy God has for us.
Verse 23. "All things are lawful for
me, but all things are not helpful; all things are lawful for me, but
all things do not edify."
This again is very much like Romans 14, an excellent chapter on
Christian and human behavior, examining the consequences of what we do
in relation to those who observe us. I am saved from the law of sin
and death --- does that mean I can do anything I want to do? Great
question, and many have turned away from Christ because of the behavior
of some "Church" persons. People in Church (like other people) can be
petty, self-serving; gossiping about others instead of praying for
them. My freedom stops when it brings harm to you, and that is
precisely the message of the next verse.
Verse 24. "Let no one seek his own, but
each one the other’s well-being."
You are given to me by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am given
to you, in much the same manner. Every once in a while I get a message
on the Internet that someone "loves" me, or something I said was useful
to them. I feel wonderful when that happens and recommend that all of
us do far too little for other people. I never felt better in my life
than a couple of weeks ago, when we went to a park in Long Beach and
gave out 120 food bags to homeless people. "Food" as the term in used
in Scripture is also extended to the non-physical. Jesus often talked
about His body being "bread" and made
reference to "living water" - Something
non-physical that is as necessary to us as water is to our bodies.
The words you and I speak to one another can be like life or death.
We can bless with words and we can also bring harm to one another. I do
not want my so-called "freedom" to bring harm to you.
Verse 25. "Eat whatever is sold in the
meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake;"
When I am at the local hamburger place, is it necessary, when my car
is up to the speaker, that I demand of the person, "were your cows
sacrificed to demons?" Even if I lived in Corinth, Paul says, it would
not be necessary to do that. If a person gives me a book, I do
not have to demand to know if it was purchased in a non-Christian book
store. No, my job is to simply eat the hamburger or read the book.
If someone wants to fellowship with me, like the person who recently
told me they liked my "WWJD" wrist band, it is not required that I ask
them scathing questions designed to utterly reveal their theology, in
order to place them "on the right track." Jesus said "My
yoke is easy and My burden is light" and that attitude should
extend to our relationships with other Christians. We are often very
hard on each other. If I club you on the head with my words, then I do
not show true love for you.
We have to have some caution but we can also boldly RECEIVE the
fullness of life that is presented to us, and the reason for that is
found in the following verse:
Verse 26. "for the earth is the Lord’s,
and all its fullness."
Now, I tend to eat very little meat and a I eat lots of fruits and
vegetables. My present Pastor seems to be pretty much the opposite. He
constantly talks about In-And-Out Burgers. I am not right and he is not
wrong - The cow and the wheat field, the hamburger and the apple were
all created for you, by Him. Marriage is given to us to bring JOY into
our lives. We were given the capacity to SING (many of us). We have
children that give us happiness. As to the latter, I look back
on life, and the best of life has been my children and grandchildren.
They are gifts, given to me, right out of God’s storehouse. Sure there
are sorrows in life - You’ve had them, I’ve had them, but God is good
and His creation, though it can be ruined by people sometimes, is very,
very good.
Verse 27. "If any of those who do not
believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set
before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake."
This applies to me, mostly in my dealings with other Christians. I
have friends who are Roman Catholics, United Methodists, Calvary
Chapelites, Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, and much, much more. The
bottom line for me has been, don’t ask too much. Don’t misunderstand,
it is very important to establish that Jesus Christ is the basis of our
so-called "Christianity." Without the living reality of Jesus Christ in
our hearts and lives, Christianity is just another religion. We need to
FELLOWSHIP with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. That is a part of
the LIFE we need to have. I have been with Christian people who meet me
(or meet someone else) and they instantly begin an interrogation worthy
of a Nazi storm-trooper.
Look at this verse: Paul is saying, "Don’t ask too many questions."
If you establish that the other person has a simple love for Jesus
Christ, and looks to Him in their need; to the best of your ability
ACCEPT them and not reject the person who may be your brother in the
Lord. God may have sent them TO you, to stretch you out of your
narrowness and into love. Remember the people of the Church in Ephesus
(Revelation 2:1-7) who were warned He might "remove
their lampstand," not because of any lack of doctrinal purity,
but because of their LACK of LOVE.
Verse 28. "But if anyone says to you,
‘This was offered to idols,’ do not eat it for the sake of the one who
told you, and for conscience sake; for ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and all
its fullness.’"
Now, let’s take this a little further. Suppose you meet this person
from another religion who seems, at first glance, to love our Lord Jesus
and have faith in Him, and you decide you will love this guy & not ask
too many questions. But then you are told by him that the "Jesus" this
guy worships was from a UFO?" What do you do now? I would ask the guy
a few questions. "By the way", I would say, "tell me about Jesus – who
is He to you? You’ve been told something, and then you’ve gone right
to the man and asked the right question. Paul has told us that if the
person preaches "another" gospel (Galatians 1) our whole approach to
that person will be different. There is only one gospel, one good
news: our Lord Jesus Christ died for you, and He is Risen from the dead
(Read 1 Cor. 15). If someone is preaching someone or something else
than our Lord, everything in our approach to them will change - He has
demonstrated he does not know our Lord and has shown he needs to be led
to Jesus Christ.
Verse 29. "Conscience, I say, not your
own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another
man’s conscience?"
I am not judged by your conscience, nor are you judged by mine. God
is my Judge and He is also yours. If I am free to attend a certain
movie, you can picket the movie theater while I am in it, but it does
not take away my freedom. On the other hand, if my attendance disturbs
you that much, I should really question my motives in attending that
movie. You, and my love for you, should be much greater than my desire
to attend any movie, any sporting event, anything at all. My faith, if
it is true, should manifest itself in love for God through Jesus Christ,
and love for you.
A recent altercation on the Internet brought this home for me again:
Yes I have freedom, to say and to do whatever I want; but I must also
have a Godly restraint. The cords which bind me are made of love.
Verse 30. "But if I partake with
thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?"
Now, Paul ate Jewish foods when he was with Jews, and Gentile foods
when he was with Gentiles. Does this make him a hypocrite? No, because
he ate freely with no "check" in his conscience from the Holy Spirit and
could honestly give thanks to God for the good food that was Given for
Paul to eat. Do you ever find a "check" in your heart that seems to be
saying, "don’t eat that," or "don’t do that." When I do, it is time to
prayerfully consider my actions - I may need to change both my attitudes
and my behavior. It may be I need to make some changes - to move on and
to grow.
If I am going to make a mistake in my walk with God, I would rather
make the mistake on the side of having less fulfillment in life, not
more. That is, I tend to believe that the Holy Spirit lives (amazing)
right inside of me (even me). Also, given that He is there, He is there
for a purpose, and the purpose is at least partly to Lead and Direct my
life. He WILL Direct your path (and mine).
Our walk should be in accord with Scripture, and it is in Scripture
that I see men like Paul who do this or that, or don’t do this or that,
BECAUSE OF a personal response to the Holy Spirit of God, in them,
directing them and their lives. We have two witnesses in our lives:
1) The written Word of God, and we should follow that
Word. 2) The other is the Holy Spirit of God, planted
deeply in our hearts and lives, and we should follow Him. The two
witnesses will be in agreement, one with the other.
Verse 31. "Therefore, whether you eat
or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
I don’t always think about the mundane things of life bringing glory
to God. Sometimes I remember to pray when I eat and sometimes I don’t.
Sometimes, when I am creating a "mail merge" in my computer at work, I
forget to thank Him for the ability to do such things. How long has it
been since you thanked Him for the breaths of air you have taken all
these years. Such things as cars and homes and families --- we often
puff out our chests and feel "I did that!"
Well, this Scripture is a reminder that GOD did all of those things.
We think we do so much and we forget (or do not choose to know) that it
is a very short series of steps into prison, or out onto the street as a
homeless person. You think, "Not me --- I am the Captain of my fate."
Well, I hope you don’t have to put that to the test, for Jesus Christ is
the Author and Finisher of everything about you (and me); even our faith
in Him. How wonderful that He loves us and is so patient with us. Let
us do all to the glory of God.
Verse 32. "Give no offense, either to
the Jews or to the Greeks or the church of God,"
Just a short time ago, I was over in Arizona for the Holiday and was
fortunate to spend the better part of Saturday evening, discussing the
Lord with the elderly mother of a good friend. Her theology has
recently taken a turn to a place I cannot go (I do not agree with her).
However, the doctrinal position she has taken is not essential to our
faith in Jesus Christ. That is, I do not agree with her on an issue
that is SUBORDINATE to our trust in Him. A speculative doctrinal
position. Every time I got close to that area, she became visibly
upset. We had a terrific time talking about other things --- and this
lady truly loves the Lord.
We each have our pet beliefs and it is easy to like them more than we
like each other. But that is not the way of this verse: We are to
"Give NO offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or the Church of
God". Good advice.
What if we HAVE to give offense in some circumstance? HOW things are
phrased is very important. Paul also told us to "speak the truth" and
to do it "in love" (Ephesians 4:15, a GREAT verse), indicating "truth"
with "love" is the direction we need to go in order to grow up in Him.
I do not always do well in this area, but I am learning, in Him.
Verse 33. "just as I also please all
men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many,
that they may be saved."
Now, I have been kind of a "pleaser." Have you heard the term?
That’s someone who tries to make others feel good through words and
actions. Unfortunately, I discovered that I do not always know
what people need, in order to please them. I may know what I NEED and
try to give it to YOU, messing you up in the process. I have seen that
"not seeking my own profit" in dealing with others, is a very good
thing, but we also need to pray unceasingly when we mess around in the
lives of other people.
Not only must I seek your profit, but also the direction and leading
of the Holy Spirit for you. His aim is that you and I will be "saved"
--- Yes, to receive Christ, and also that our lives will be changed in
specific, individual, and appropriate ways. Ways that are too subtle,
usually, for us to understand. Ways that He DOES understand. The
exceptionally good news is that He DOES want us to be involved in the
creative process relating to one another. He has given you to me and me
to you --- all of us to each other.
That’s what the "Gifts" of the Holy Spirit are all about. Not only
are you given the command and desire to help others, but also you are
given specific equipment to help them. You may have "knowledge" that
they need in order to understand. You may have the "wisdom" required
for the present situation. You may be the one with the gift to "heal"
his or her circumstance. Pray for your brother. Pray for your sister
in Christ. It may be that prayer is just what is needed, or He may have
something additional for you to do. Whatever is required, trust in
Him; love your sibling in Christ, and He WILL make you useful to those
who are in need.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
http://www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
