SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 10
MEMORY VERSE
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
WARNINGS FROM ISRAEL’S HISTORY (vs. 10-13)
Our forefathers were all under the cloud and passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them and their bodies were scattered over the desert.
SINS THE ISRAELITES COMMITTED:
- Idolatry (v. 7)
- Adultery (v. 8)
- Testing the Lord. (v. 9)
- Grumbling (v. 10)
IDOL FEASTS AND THE LORD’S SUPPER (vs. 14-22)
During the Lord’s supper, the bread stands for the body of Christ and the cup stands for the blood of Christ. We participate in thanksgiving as one body. The people of Israel participated in the sacrifice of an idol, which is offered to demons. Paul said that he did not want us to be participants with demons. We cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. We cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
THE BELIEVER’S FREEDOM (vs. 23-24)
“Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. (vs. 23-24)
PAUL’S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BELIEVERS: (vs. 25-33)
If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,”, then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for his conscience’ sake. So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (v. 31). Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God. Seek the good of many so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
THOUGHTS:
We have the right to do anything that is lawful. But if we insist on using our rights, we may cause a weaker believer to stumble.
Paul cautioned us to remember the lessons the Israelites learned from God so that we can avoid repeating their errors. We should read the Bible everyday to remind us of how God wants us to live and avoid committing their mistakes.
Paul gave encouraging words to the Corinthian believers about temptations.
- Temptation happens to everyone. (v. 13a)
- You can resist temptation because God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. (v. 13b)
- When you are tempted, God will provide you a way out for you to stand up. (v. 13c)
As followers of Christ, our allegiance should be to the Lord alone. We cannot eat at the Lord’s table and drink from the cup of demons at the same time. That means we cannot live 2 lives, trying to follow both Christ and the crowd.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IN MAKING A DECISION:
- Will God bless us with this decision?
- Will we be subjected to God’s judgment?
- Will this cause others to sin?
- Will it glorify God’s name?