DAY #256: 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:16

While believers are free to practice their freedom in Christ in matters that are allowed, some practices of freedom do not necessarily work to build up individual believers, others, or the church. Therefore, Christians are to use their freedoms, not for their own good, but to think of other Christians and what is best for them.

All Christians, free in Christ, should humbly set aside their freedoms in order to win more people for the Kingdom. Nothing should ever impede a believer’s witness for Christ. It is always more important to avoid unhelpful actions than to assert freedoms.

Regarding the specific example of meat offered to idols, Paul offered this advice. The bottom line is that all that believers do should be done for the glory of God. If these strong believers had to set aside their liberties in order to win others to Christ, they should do so because this would bring glory to God.

Paul wanted these believers to understand that the liberty God gave them was not to be used to give offense. If need be, he would never eat any meat again if it would keep others from stumbling. In things that did not really matter, Paul tried to please everyone. Always, Paul’s focus was to do what was best for others so they may be saved. Nothing, not even liberty in Christ, should cause believers to lose sight of their desire to win others to Christ.

All Christians should be so focused on bringing others to Christ and see to it that nothing stands in the way of that goal. Paul followed his own advice and encouraged the believers to follow his example. The reason they could do so? Because he followed Christ’s example.Christians owe much to others who have taught them and have modeled for them what they need to know about the gospel and Christian living. They should continue following the good examples of those who have invested themselves in them by investing their own lives through evangelism, service, and Christian education. They, in turn, become models worth imitating.—




As Chapter eleven begins, we see another problem that is nagging at this very worldly and immature church of believers. The situation in Corinth was that women were coming to church with their heads uncovered and this was causing disruption. Although the reason for the problem is unknown, we can gather that Paul’s concern was that nothing disrupt worship. So he advised the Corinthian women to cover their heads in public worship much as he advised the Christians not to eat meat offered to idols in public situations.

The women were certainly free to not cover their heads just as they were free to eat meat offered to idols. Neither of these mattered regarding their salvation. However, Paul always advised that Christians show deference to others in order to promote unity.




SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

I must be conscience of my weaker brothers and sister in Christ. Life in not about doing what pleases me. It's not about me. It's all about God and pleasing Him. It's about serving others and putting their needs ahead of my own.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV)

Would to God that attitude would reign in the church. It's not about what please me. I'm just here to humbly serve and have the attitude of Jesus Christ. I think about my dear friend High Walker whose favorite verse was Psalms 84:10 (NIV), which says, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."

Lord, build this attitude into the people of COV. We're just here to serve the Lord. Anytime, anyplace with anyone at whatever cost, we will serve the Lord.