Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
Let's not deceive ourselves into thinking we're all right.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Nothing you've ever been tempted with has been unique to you, others have suffered the same pull to do whatever it is. And God is faithful, because He has said He would help us and strengthen us. And He is just because He has already put our punishment on Jesus on the Cross. So He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, beyond what He will enable you to withstand. But will also provide the way of escape, a way you can run away from it. So that you will be able to endure it, you will have no excuse, you'll always be able to say No!
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Putting anything ahead of God in your priorities is making it your idol. Run away from this kind of thinking. Our personal relationship with God is always of prime importance, that everything else depends on. Then comes your family, then your ministry, your work for the Lord and your work to make a living. Everything else comes after these priorities.
I speak as to wise men; you judge what I say.
Paul says to evaluate the reasonableness of what he is saying.
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the Blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?
He is referring to the communion table, as the church all participates together.
Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of one bread.
Since we all take communion together, we are all spiritually nourished as one body, the body of Christ, and He is the Head.
Look at the Nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers in the altar?
Everyone who brought his personal animal to the priest for sacrifice ate part of the animal as part of the ritual of sacrifice. Many of the sacrifices are called feasts, because of how much meat is on each animal, to share with all who participated.
What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No,
There is no life in a statue, so it can't affect anything given to it.
but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God;
Whatever power an idol seemed to have came from demons who were deceiving them.
and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.
Don't think that any power but God's can do good for you; don't think any of these other things can benefit you in any real sense.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
If you consider yourself a Christian, are you going to astrologers for advise? Or any other source of worldly wisdom?
Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?
Do we think that we can make God chase us, or pursue us, if we turn away from Him like that?
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
Just because something is permitted or allowed, it doesn't mean that it is beneficial.
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.
This is another way of saying to love your neighbor as the Lord has loved you.
Eat anything sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake;
For the Earth is the Lord's, and all it contains (Psalm 24:1).Everything God made belongs to Him, and He has given us authority to manage it and use it for our benefit, so every kind of food that is eaten is permissible to eat, no questions asked.
If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake.
If you're invited to dinner at a friend's house, don't even ask where the meat came from, to not instigate any arguments.
But if anyone says to you, This is meat sacrificed to idols, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake;
If they say that, then they are trying to bait you, to see what you will do.
I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience?
I know it's okay to eat it, but if he attaches some spiritual meaning to it, then I don't want to fall into his trap. My conscience is clear either way, but I will not let him condemn me for going against his conscience.
If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
So if I am eating and appreciating the delicious food God provides, giving Him thanks and glory, then why should I allow someone to speak against me for it?
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
So even in such basic life activities as eating a meal, we are to do everything we do in thanksgiving and giving God the credit for providing it.
Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
Without injuring any one else's sensibilities. We don't want to be the stumbling stone in someone's way to coming to faith in Christ.
just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
Paul was not a people-pleaser, but he did try to be aware of not deliberately offending others.
We all have our own ideas about what is good or acceptable. Those who have the understanding that everything God provides is permissible are not to flaunt our "maturity" before those who consider some of these things to be wrong or off-limits. We need to be sensitive to their feelings, to not offend them.
Paul was willing to limit his own freedom for the sake of those he wanted to win for the Lord, by not even eating any meat.
Father, what is it in my life that I am enjoying with thanksgiving, that may be offensive to my neighbors? Paul uses food as an example, but this is a principle that can be applied to any part of life and living every day.
Show me how to shine Your light in the darkness of this World in a gracious and compassionate way, so I will not be the blockage to anyone coming to You, Father.
O Father, teach me how Paul could be aware of others' sensibilities, so that I can also be a worker who does not need to be ashamed. Help me to share Your Love with those who desperately need You, even if they don't know they are.
Teach me how to reach out, how to befriend, how to attract others to You, Father. Show me how to be, among people who are not like me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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