The Christian's Duty

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? 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.

The Christian’s Duty

The text we are looking at this morning is from one of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. The Corinthian church was fraught with problems and Paul addresses one of those problems here. These verse are the conclusion of what we would call our Christian liberties. But as Christians we all have a duty, a duty to live our lives in a certain way, the way Christ has called us to live and that is why i titled this message the Christian’s duty.

The Good of Others (23-24)

1 Corinthians 10:23–24 (ESV)

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.

Verse 23 & 24

Here in verse 23 our Christian liberties are reaffirmed “all things are lawful” however Paul quickly puts three qualifications or considerations when it comes to our liberty “not all things are helpful” (23b), “not all things build up” (23d), and verse 24. We should ask ourselves if our actions are beneficial, helpful, or profitable. WWJD

So what does Paul mean by verse 23, he is pointing out the that just because something is lawful for a Christian to do it does not mean they should do it. Because not all things are helpful, and not all things build up (this means in Christian doctrine). As Christians we have a duty and it is to live a way that exemplifies Jesus Christ, so if something is lawful but it may cause someone else to stumble we should refrain from doing it.

In verse 24 Paul moves into how we should be concerned more for others than ourselves. Does this sound familiar Matthew 22:39 Love your neighbor as yourself. When we are going about our day we should be more concerned with others than our own personal desires. “A Christian has the abstract right to do whatever is not in itself wrong, but consideration for the good of others places practical limits on this right (liberty).”1

1 Vaughan, C., & Lea, T. D. (2002). 1 Corinthians (p. 106). Cape Coral, FL: Founders Press.

Don’t be Picky (25-30)

1 Corinthians 10:25–30 (ESV)

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?

Verse 25-30

Here Paul starts with some application. We must remember we have to keep the text in the context it was written, some of this may seem foreign to us because we don’t have to worry about meat sacrificed to idols, but we can apply this to things in our time and lives that may be lawful for us but not necessarily beneficial.

Verse 25-26

These two verses deal with meat that is purchased in the market, they should not worry if the meat was killed as a sacrifice to an idol. Why the answer is in verse 26 God has provided us everything. It should not be thought of as meat sacrificed, but as meat provided by God.

Verse 27

Paul is making a case for not offending the unbeliever who has invited them to dinner.

Verse 28

Now Paul gives us a but, so if someone points out the fact that the meat was used as a sacrifice, they should not eat it. We do not want to offend the unbeliever but now it would be better to offend them for the sake of the weaker Christian. We do not want to cause a weaker Christian to stumble.

Verse 29

Here Paul asks a rhetorical question. Nothing can be gained for insisting on one’s own liberties despite how it affects the other person.

Verse 30

How can a believer give thanks for food that causes another to stumble. We cannot.

Luke 17:2

Luke 17:2 ESV

2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Living for God’s glory (31)

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Verse 31

I love this verse it is so simple yet so intense. Paul continues with his application using food, no matter what we are doing how menial it may seem we are to do it to the glory of God. Our Christian liberty and our most common behavior is to be conducted to the honor of our LORD.

Live to be a Witness (32-33)

1 Corinthians 10:32–33 ESV

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.

Verse 32-33

In verse 32 Paul lists three groups, and these three groups cover all of humanity. As Christians we must be careful to offend no one.

Verse 33

Paul makes the point that what he does is done to win the souls of those he is around. His first and foremost priority is one’s salvation, and this should be the same with all believers. We all should be getting to the heart of the matter with those around us, their salvation.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

11:1

How are we to witness to those around us, Paul says to imitate him as he imitates Christ. We should live our lives looking to Jesus for our example. We should be striving to be more Christlike each and everyday. And the only way we can accomplish this is with a relationship with Him, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives.