Having an Impact

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

HAVING AN IMPACT

1 Corinthians 10:25-33

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."   27 If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake— 29 the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be 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? 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

NIV

Let’s finish this discussion regarding this eating food that is sacrificed to idols and all the little nuggets that have been along the way, although there are still some in these last comments. The point is not about the food that we eat or not eat. It is not about the drinking of wine or not drinking of wine, for if our host serves us food that we normally consider as not good for us or wine that we do not think is right to drink, then we should eat or drink whatever is put in front of us, unless the host says that he got this food from a store that specifically sells food for sacrifices to idols. This, of course, would not happen in our time and space on this earth. Nevertheless, if we thank God for whatever we eat or drink what difference is it what it is? Whatever we do eat or drink we should do it all for the glory of God. However, if by what we do, even though we have the freedom to do it, eating or drinking whatever it is, but we offend a weaker brother or sister because of their conscience or their beliefs then we should abstain in their presence, thus not causing them to either engage in food or drink that they believe they should not, or they could feel uncomfortable in our presence, and they could even become judgmental, or critical of us, which would be sin for them, but also for us. We would not want them to stumble, so we try to please them, however, on the other hand, we would not be about pleasing men, but pleasing God. However, it would be pleasing to God if we did not cause our brother to stumble. Yet, it is also our brothers’ responsibility to please God rather than man, so they should not judge us, or make us feel uncomfortable for eating or drinking whatever we want. As long as we thank God for what we eat or drink, there is no reason anyone should denounce us, as Paul puts it. So it falls on all of us to live as fellow believers which means living in a manner that pleases God yet considering the impact our lives have on others and how that may influence their being in a relationship with God. Therefore our lives will always have an impact.