Consideration for Others
After a four-week hiatus from our regular study due to the Advent/Christmas season, we are back in the book of 1 Corinthians. It seems a long time ago that we were discussing Paul’s advice about how to live in a culture that does not necessarily embrace Christian principles and lifestyle. We pick up his conversation about eating meat sacrificed to idols found in 1 Corinthians 10.
1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
23 “All
things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,”
but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good,
but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the
meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For
“the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one
of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat
whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of
conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been
offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed
you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your
conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s
conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I
denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31So, whether you
eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to
Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone
in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they
may be saved. 11:1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
In this part of the world (U.S.) we don’t find much in the way
of sacrificing meat to idols. If it is happening here, it is so far underground
that we never hear about it. So, we must extrapolate out into what we do
practice here in this culture. I thought about this for some time this morning,
wondering what might be a close correlation. A few things came to mind, but
they seem petty – because they are if you are not easily offended or looking
for someone to do something that makes you angry or hurt.
Sometimes, I wonder about things like “The Elf on the Shelf”
where you child must behave during the month of December in order to receive
Christmas presents; Christians sharing their horoscope like they believe it has
some influence over their lives; or a rabid fascination with a sports team to
the point where it looks like religion. Maybe they don’t correlate at all to
eating meat sacrificed to an idol. But people can get jumpy about all of them.
I’ve heard Christians go off on a rant about all of these topics, like they
matter. To them, they do. And so I hold my tongue because discussion of them creates
a stumbling block. And of course, we are living in a time when we hold our opinions
as sacred. I hate to say this, but they’re not.
For me, this passage centers around verse 31 and the words do all to the glory of God. If that is
my guiding principle, I will care far more about my impact upon the sensibilities
of others than I do about my own fiercely held opinions. The guiding principle
must always be what is beneficial to others and constructive, what promotes the
congregation’s progress and joy in the faith. No one should be selfishly
preoccupied with his own rights, privileges, and personal satisfaction at the
expense of others. In keeping that at the forefront of my thinking, I will
indeed be attempting to do all things to the glory of God.
This is not necessarily an easy way to live, but I do
believe it gets easier with practice. When I learn how to hold my tongue and
keep my opinions to myself, I am allowing the Holy Spirit to move rather than
my selfish desires. Sometimes He urges me to speak, albeit gently and with
kindness, but more often I am urged to remain silent. Obeying that urge is
sometimes successful and sometimes a miserable failure. I’m a work in progress.
Comments
Post a Comment