Bible Challenge 28
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
31 So, 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, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Do all to the glory of God.
Don’t just stop and read over those few words in verse 31. That is an extremely difficult command to follow. Do everything to the glory of God? Even eating food? Even in how we watch a football game?
If you really think about your life, what you do each day, doing everything for the glory of God becomes the hardest command to follow. But it is also the most fruitful and the most beneficial way to live our lives.
So how do we actually do everything, even the littlest things, for God’s glory. Think about it like this. If X unbelieving person was watching me do this thing right now, and they asked me why I was doing it, would I be able to answer that I am doing this thing for this reason for God’s glory.
A practical example is Paul’s example of eating. How do you eat for the glory of God? Wouldn’t you eat healthily, to take care of the body God gave you so you can use it for His glory in how you help and treat your family, what church activity you need to have energy to be involved in, etc. Hopefully that principle is helpful for you.
There is one other thing I want you to catch from these verses, look at verse 33. Is Paul really saying he is trying to please everyone in everything he does? Isn’t that a hopeless task? In a literal sense yes, but Paul isn’t talking about what we would “people-pleasing”, where we want people to be happy with us and to not think negatively of us.
What Paul is saying is that he tries his best to meet people where they are and how they are, without sinning himself of course. So if you want to follow Paul’s example and meet people where they are, you may have to miss watching a football game, or eat somewhere or something you don’t want to, or engage in a hobby you don’t enjoy. But not merely out of selflessness, but because by doing so you are trying to see MANY be saved.
Isn’t that what you want, what we all should want? To see God’s Kingdom grow and to see people be saved?
So why are we unwilling to take step one and meet people where they are, even if it means giving up our desires and some comforts.
Bible Challenge #27
1 Corinthians 10:25-30
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?
Here Paul is applying an extremely important principle of Christian theology that we must understand. It may not be flashy or the most exciting, but I urge you to fully focus and commit this principle to memory.
The exact same action, done in the same time and place, can be a sin for one believer and not be a sin for the other believer.
How is this possible? Isn’t sin sin and anything that isn’t sin not a sin? Yes, there are many sins that are this black and white. But when it comes to the idea of Christian freedom, there are these things called “disputable matters” from Romans 14:1. This is where the Bible doesn’t provide a clear condemnation, and thus we may disagree, but the core of the issue is our conscience.
An overactive conscience can be almost as dangerous as an underactive conscience.
See how Paul says to not even raise the question at your unbelieving friends house if the meat is sacrificed to idols? That’s because if it is, and that pricks your conscience and you think it’s wrong, you now must abstain from the meal or you have sinned. Meanwhile your brother who joined the meal later didn’t ask, and so his conscience isn’t pricked and though he eats the same meat it is not sin for him.
But what do “disputable matters” look like in our society? Things like various political groups/identifications, alcohol, lots of modern media, and the list goes on. It is best to avoid these topics when possible when trying to build relationships with unbelievers and when mentoring younger believers because you might learn something that wounds your own conscience and leads you into either sinning or having to pull back from that relationship.
One last thing you might notice from these verses, but there is another time when we must refuse something we feel free to receive even if our conscience isn’t wounded or prodded.
That being if it would cause a fellow believer or even an unbeliever to stumble and sin.
If you are dining with someone you know or suspect to struggle with alcohol, don’t order alcohol for yourself even if you feel confident to handle it in moderation. If you are talking with someone you know to struggle with an unhealthy loyalty to or obsession with a specific political leaning, don’t bring up politics and avoid arguing about such. If you are at the home of someone who feels strongly about certain modern media being dangerous or sinful, don’t ask to watch your favorite show that falls in that category even if your conscience isn’t pricked.
The are two key principles for us to remember
For “disputable matters”, our conscience tells us whether we are free to partake on one side or if it would be sin to do X thing based on our Christian freedom. (this is how we get ourselves in trouble with an overactive conscience)
We must be wary of others’ overactive consciences, and accommodate those as best we can by denying some of our Christian freedoms in certain situations
Bible Challenge #26
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
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.
Is it bad?
That is the question we are always quick to ask and quick to be concerned about. Is it bad that I did this? Is it bad that I said this to that person? Is this show or movie going to be harmful to my child? Is this choice going to hurt me or my walk with God?
But Paul’s principle for us to remember when applying our Christian freedom that we have learned about isn’t based on avoiding harmful things. The question Paul is calling to us to ask ourselves about what we choose to do, consume, and enjoy isn’t to ask whether it is a bad or harmful thing.
It is to ask if it is a GOOD and HELPFUL thing!
That may not seem like a big difference, but it makes a massive difference in how we live when we focus on pursuing what is good instead of avoiding what is bad. That music, book, TV show, or movie that you know is on the line, is no longer an uncertain decision when you are pursuing what is good instead of avoiding what is bad. Unsure where/what to spend money on or whether or not to buy something? Is it good and helpful, or simply not bad?
This approach completely changes how we live because as we pursue what is good, helpful, and beneficial, we don’t even have time or energy to consider the sins or poor choices we struggle with. Obviously this is not a road to perfection, there is no such thing this side of Heaven, but do you have something you are struggling to avoid?
Maybe it is some negativity or mean thoughts/words. Maybe it is a sin struggle. Maybe it is something that isn’t necessarily bad but isn’t building you or others up. Instead of being focused on avoiding the bad things, I challenge you to pursue what is good.
Spend more time with God in His Word and in prayer. Spend more time building intentional connections with your family, friends, coworkers, and sharing with them what you are learning about God and how He loves them and wants to change their lives.
Bible Reading Challenge #25
1 Corinthians 10:16-22
16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
If you’ve been following along in our series, it may seem that Paul is contradicting himself here in 10:20–22. Only two chapters earlier, Paul said that idols are nothing at all and that we are free to eat food sacrificed to idols. Here, however, Paul is addressing something different: he is denouncing the practice of sacrificing to idols.
Did you catch the difference? If you buy something at the market that has been sacrificed to an idol, it is of no consequence. But for a Christian to be actively making sacrifices to “no gods at all” is sinful. The real issue is your active participation in the worship of other gods.
In our day, we may not be tempted by ancient deities, but we are still tempted to worship idols of various kinds. Idolatry is giving our worship to anything other than God. You may not see yourself bowing down to something, but think instead about your priorities.
Is your job an idol? Do you serve it at the expense of God, your family, or your peace? Is it the main identity you wear?
Is your happiness an idol? Do you chase a positive mood or pleasure so much that you ignore God’s commands in order to laugh, enjoy, or feel good?
Is a hobby an idol? Does a sports team, extracurricular activity, or role in an organization compete—and often win—for your most valuable free time?
An idol is anything we place before God.
So, honestly (leave your church answers out!): What are you placing before God?
That is your idol.
Don’t bow down to it while ignoring the living God.
Bible Reading Challenge #24
1 Corinthians 10:13–15
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
Big Points
1) Every single one of us endures temptation.
Some of you feel as though you are the only one tempted by a certain sin—but that is false. Others of you don’t feel tempted each day, but that simply reveals there are sins in your life that you’ve allowed or condoned. All of us are tempted. You are not unique.
Temptation is not a sign of failure. Temptation is part of the human condition. Our Lord and Savior Jesus was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4) and yet was without sin.
2) God is faithful.
The power of God is greater than the schemes of the enemy. Temptations will come, but sin does not have to follow. God is with us. By His Holy Spirit, we have been given power to overcome. Through Scripture, prayer, and accountability, there is strength to resist.
I have seen God give me grace and self-control in my own life to overcome what I thought was impossible. You are not hopeless!
3) Temptation is not the same as suffering.
Temptation is the opportunity to reject God’s way and choose our own way. Suffering, on the other hand, is something inflicted on us that may or may not be within our control. Suffering is not a statement of failure to resist temptation—it is the sad reality of a broken world.
4) Flee temptation.
Like Joseph in Potiphar’s house, we must flee temptation. The longer we let it linger, the more likely we are to indulge. Fleeing may include leaving a location, breaking a relationship, limiting technology, or removing enticements.
Reflection Questions
Do you believe that you can have victory over the temptations in your life?
Do you recognize the temptations in your life?
Do you look to God—or to your own strength—to overcome?