How Do You Use Your Freedom? - 1 Corinthians 10

 

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

In chapter 10, Paul continues to address the issue of meat offered to idols.  Paul begins the chapter by reminding the Corinthians of the example of the Israelites, who became idolators and perished before entering the Promised Land.  He did not want them to get casual with their sin, especially in regard to sitting down at the table with those who were eating meat sacrificed to idols.  Though the meat in itself was nothing when they participated in the feasts offered to idols, they were participating with demons, much like we participate with Christ as we celebrate Holy Communion together.  Though they had freedom it did not mean that they should participate in things that were not beneficial for them, especially if it affected others in the body of Christ negatively.  

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

Paul clarifies the difference between going to a feast dedicated to idols, and a meal with an unbeliever.  The difference is a meal at a feast dedicated to idols is a conscious participation with those false idols/demons.  But if a believer has dinner with an unbeliever and they bring up that the food has been sacrificed to idols, then the believer should abstain.  If the another person clearly thinks it is wrong for you to partake of this food, for the sake of THEIR conscience you should abstain.  It may seem like Paul is being inconsistent, but Paul's principle is that though there is nothing inherently wrong with eating meat offered to idols if it causes another to stumble, a believer should refrain from exercising their freedom for the sake of the other.  

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Finally, Paul gives the overarching principle, which is good for all Christians for all time.  He says whether you drink or eat do it all to the glory of God.  While it is not unimportant what we eat or drink, the motive with which we do it is of ultimate importance.  Guzik says, 

"The purpose of our lives isn’t to see how much we can get away with and still be Christians; rather, it is to glorify God. If the Corinthian Christian would have kept this principle in mind from the beginning in this issue, how much easier it would have made everything!"

Think if before every decision you made you asked the question, "Do my actions glorify God?" Jesus has died for our sins to set us free from the bondage of sin.  He has set us free so that we can use our freedom to serve God and serve others.  When our motives are pure and we are trying to glorify God there is almost no way we can go wrong, especially as we put other's interests above our own.  

What in which areas of your life do you think God is calling you to glorify Him? Who are some of the people who are affected by your decisions and how can your decisions to glorify God help them to believe in God?  Where have you gotten comfortable with sin in your life thinking that since you are forgiven it doesn't really matter?