Day 142, 1 Corinthians 10
Paul continues his theme of laying down his own rights for the sake of others.
Starting with the ancient Jewish nation, who put their own desires ahead of obedience to God in the wandering in the wilderness, Paul describes multiple occasions where disobedience caused suffering. In the same way, he’s indicating that the Corinthians’ disobedience to God’s values is going to cause them to suffer too.
In contrast, us experiencing testing through circumstances is a way for God to demonstrate His faithfulness and bring us to victory.
One areas where the Corinthians were sinfully flaunting their “freedom” was in the sacrament of communion. It had become a competition to see who could vaunt the most distortion of Jesus’ instructions in the name of freedom. Paul corrects this with the warning that God is displeased, and they will find themselves on the wrong side of Him.
And finally, answering their retort that their freedom gives them the right to do as they please, Paul counters with the observation that doing what God requires is a safeguard for our own conscience, and that of those who don’t yet know God. Laying down my rights for the sake of others is the right thing to do, because that’s what Jesus did. Claiming the opposite to indulge myself is simply sin.
Let’s have the joy of others getting saved as we willingly forego some of the rights of our freedom. That may not be a populist slogan in America, but it is biblical orthodoxy!
Have a great day!
Mark.