DO IT ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Passage: 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1

Key verse: 31

NIV

Idol Feasts and the Lord’s Supper

14 Therefore, my dear friends,(A) flee from idolatry.(B) 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break(C) a participation in the body of Christ?(D) 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body,(E) for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices(F) participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything?(G) 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons,(H) not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.(I) 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?(J) Are we stronger than he?(K)

The Believer’s Freedom

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.(L) “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.(M)

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,(N) 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[a](O)

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you(P) 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.(Q) 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom(R) 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?(S)

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.(T) 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble,(U) whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God(V)— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way.(W) For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many,(X) so that they may be saved.(Y) 11 1 Follow my example,(Z) as I follow the example of Christ.(AA)

Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

14 Therefore, my beloved, (A)flee from idolatry. 15 I speak (B)as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 (C)The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? (D)The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are (E)one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider (F)the people of Israel:[a] (G)are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that (H)an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice (I)they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 (J)You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and (K)the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and (L)the table of demons. 22 (M)Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? (N)Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

23 (O)“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 (P)Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 (Q)Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For (R)“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, (S)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 (T)your conscience, but his. For (U)why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that (V)for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or (W)whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 (X)Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to (Y)the church of God, 33 just as (Z)I try to please everyone in everything I do, (AA)not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

11 (AB)Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 10:18 Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Flee from idolatry (14-22)

Paul had just warned the Corinthian Christians about displeasing God, using examples from Israel's history. Paul gave them a concluding warning to flee from idolatry. Apparently, the Corinthians thought it was not a problem to participate in both Christian eating fellowship and in the eating of food sacrificed to idols. They were playing a dangerous game! The seemingly innocuous practice of eating sacrificial food leads to idol worship. No one can serve both God and idols. As Christians, our only aim in worship and in obedience is to the one and only God, Father of Jesus Christ our Lord.

2. Follow the example of Christ (1

:23-11:1)

We certainly have the freedom to do anything we want. Food sacrificed to idols is nothing. We have freedom to eat anything we want. But Paul reminded the Corinthians that freedom should be tempered with love and concern for others. If acting on our freedoms causes another to stumble, we shouldn't do that act. Our aim shouldn't be to satisfy our own desires. Our aim, as Christians, is to glorify God in everything we do.

Prayer: Help me to use my freedom in Christ wisely, to build up my brothers and sisters, and to glorify God.

One Word: Do it all for the glory of God.