All for the Glory of God

1 Cor 10:23-11:1

Much of Paul’s discussion recorded for us in vs 25-30 have to do with a subject far removed from us. The subject of food sacrificed to idols (see 1 Cor 8:1) is not as important to us as it was to believers living in a world where most meat sold was through the multiple temples to the various pagan gods and goddesses of the Greco-Roman world.

What is important for us from this passage can be distilled into two primary assertions.

SEEK THE GOOD OF OTHERS

The believers in Rome prided themselves on their ‘freedom,’ In vs 23 Paul quotes their ‘slogan’ two times: Everything is lawful!

Truly these believers recognized that in Christ, who had promised full freedom (see John 8:36, 38). They chose to measure their entire life around their freedom.

As Paul indicates freedom is not the same as license, freedom is not an excuse to ignore or put down others.

Corinth was an important city for trade. Located near ports allowing shipping between Rome and cities along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean sea, Corinth was known all over the area as a city of significant wealth.

Wealth sometimes colors ones ability to relate to others. Several places in the NT point to this issue. For example, in the letter of James we read of a circumstance that may have really occured:

James 2:2–3 (HCSB)

For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,”

Paul encourages his young protege, Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (HCSB)

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.

He has already given clues in vs 23 as to how we evaluate what the ‘good’ of others might be.

a). Is it beneficial?

We are now reaping the rewards of several generations who have been raised with the belief that they as individuals and they alone have the right to define success. And for many of them - certainly not all - success means fulfilling their individuality displaying themselves freely.

One quick glance at social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and others is all it takes to recognize that many who post have no thought of what is helpful or beneficial!

Paul asks…just because you can, should you?

b). Is it edifying/useful for building up one another?

David Platt, a pastor whom I’ve quoted before writes these words:

The whole reason we’re commanded to bear with one another is that we’re supposed to be around people who we struggle to bear with (and who struggle to bear with us). There are fifty-eight other “one another” commands for Christian community in Scripture, so go out of your way to obey them all, including commands to listen to one another, encourage one another, believe the best about one another, please one another, lay aside preferences for one another, and forgive one another.

Platt, David. Don't Hold Back (p. 154). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Give No Offense

Earlier in this same letter Paul reminded these readers that

1 Corinthians 1:18 HCSB

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.

How are we to not give offense if we are serious about proclaiming the message of the gospel?

The gospel is offensive! Sinful men and women resist being held accountable for their sinful choices.

So, how are we to live and yet ‘give no offense?’

The Greek word translated ‘offense’ is only used three times in the NT - and all of them by Paul (see Phil 1:10; Acts 24:16 for the other locations).

When comparing the ways Paul uses the word the best understanding of the word might be ‘give no stumbling-block’ to Jew, Greek, or the church.

Again listen to the words of David Platt:

Do more liberal members of school boards in our country think, Christians are the most loving people in our community?

What about abortion rights activists? Do they think, Christians have shown such kindness and compassion toward me?

Do our self-professing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning, asexual, and ally neighbors know us personally as friends who listen closely to them and care deeply for them?

What about the members of the opposing political party? Do they think, That person may disagree strongly with me, but I always feel honored and cared for by them?

What about our neighbors of other ethnicities? Do they see us intentionally tearing down walls of division and creating spaces where we learn about and appreciate our cultural differences?

Platt, David. Don't Hold Back (pp. 73-74). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

“Do Everything for the glory of God...”

At first glance the two principles Paul outlined might be mistaken as a call for a bland, boring, life that fades into the background.

Even a quick reading of Paul’s life reveals exactly the opposite. Again let’s return to a passage from earlier in the letter:

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 HCSB

When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.

These two principles and the primary goal of making God’s name known raise some questions for you and I - even if we don’t have to worry about to which idol our meat might have been sacrificed.

Are we fully persuaded that the gospel is THE solution to the most pressing problem of the world?

I confess. I often lose sight of the primary need of the people in our community. I can spend hours brainstorming solutions to challenges to families, parents, children, and so on.

Am I willing to invest that kind of time and energy to proclaiming the gospel - not just for an hour or so on Sunday, but infusing the good news of Jesus Christ in every transaction, in every exchange?

Are we ready to put our time and energy tirelessly into making God’s name known?

Again, confession time. I tend to shy away from direct intervention in people’s lives. I’m often reminded of the ages old story of the pastor who was known for going to the local train station every day at 2pm. After several weeks of observing this behavior, someone asked the pastor - Why?

His answer: as the train passes through town every day at 2pm it’s the only thing that moves without me pushing or pulling it!

In Paul’s second letter to the believers in Corinth he lists some of the experiences he had as he sought to proclaim the good news of Jesus:

2 Corinthians 11:24–30 HCSB

Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.

A few paragraphs later Paul will write:

2 Corinthians 12:9 HCSB

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Are we ‘RESOLVED’ to know nothing but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified?”

The Hubble Telescope is revealing the grandest and most beautiful pictures:

The Glory of God

While this image - and hundreds like it - can take our breath away, the primary point in history where God’s glory is most clearly on display is here

The clearest and greatest demonstration of the glory of God is in the self-giving death of Jesus Christ for our sin.

Paul has one last piece of counsel:

1 Corinthians 11:1 HCSB

Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

We will become fully formed followers of Jesus who live intentionally seeking to share Jesus and invite others to join us in becoming fully formed followers of Jesus.

What choices are before you this morning:

One last quote from David Platt with some specific questions only you can answer:

Either we unite as the bride of Christ around the gospel of Christ and the authority of his Word, or we unite as a social club around our country’s ideals and our personal positions.

Either we bridge the ethnic divide that Christ has abolished, or we deepen this divide that our country has perpetuated.

Either we elevate God’s truth or our thoughts as supreme, and either we share God’s truth with compassion, or we repel the next generation.

Either we spend our lives doing justice and loving mercy, or we spend endless hours debating justice and ignoring mercy.

Either we reach the unreached with passion to make disciples of all nations, or we ignore the unreached with passion to make our lives in our nation great.

Either we pursue God as the prize of our lives now and forever, or we prostitute God for prizes that will all fade.

Platt, David. Don't Hold Back (pp. 151-152). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Which will it be for you? For us?