A tough List

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

A TOUGH LIST

1 Cor 10:6-10

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."   8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did — and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did — and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did — and were killed by the destroying angel.

NIV

Idolatry, pagan revelry, sexual immorality, grumbling and test God is quite a list of things not to do. And we have an example of seeing just how easy it is to yield to such temptations and what the result of doing so is. Now it is true we live in what is called the age of grace, and at least as far as we know, God has not struck down thousands of people in one fell swoop, yet should we be concerned as to God will react to us if we engage in any of this behaviors? More than likely we will not invest any of our time and energy in giving homage to any idol, nor make anything an idol, like success, money, security, material possessions, or even some celebrity or sports star or the whole team for that matter. It is doubtful we would ever indulge in pagan revelry, or commit sexual immorality. Most likely we would never test the Lord either, like if you are really Christ than you could do…… But this grumbling thing might cause us some problems. This would certainly be the result of not being content with who we are, with where we are, with what we are doing and with what we have or have not. It would seem no matter what God did for those people in the past, they simply were not satisfied, they wanted more. Are we guilty of that kind of thinking? Do we have to watch out for a certain type of angel? It would seem we really have no reason to grumble, but yet it also appears we could always find something to grumble about. Surely if we grumble about our lot in life, the amount of money we don’t have, our cars are not the newest, our clothes are not the finest, our job is the best, or some other material thing, we might be grumbling against God. If we simply grumble about our aches and pains is that grumbling against God? We can surely do something about all of those things, if we take it upon ourselves to follow our own desires, our own instincts, our own choices, our own ambitions, our own way of life. But would that in a sense be grumbling against God as well? Sure, being a believer does not preclude us from having all those fine things, if they come from the hand of God. If he directs us in that way, and desires for us to live at a certain social economic level it is for a reason, so we can share the gospel with others at that same level. But that is up to God and not us to determine. Grumbling is grumbling, not matter how much or little we have if we are not content. A tough list to contend with.

Follow His Lead

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

FOLLOW HIS LEAD

1 Cor 10:1-5

10:1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.   5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

NIV

We are going to see what this introduction is all about but we must first see the truth here. Is there any excuse to be ignorant of the facts? It appears we should all know the truth, but what we do about it is entirely another thing. Here we see that God had provided them with everything they were going to need for their journey. This cloud was in fact his way of providing leadership for them to follow as well as a way to protect them from the scorching heat of the sun’s ray in the desert, where most men cannot live. Just as we are considered baptized in Christ, they were baptize in the covenant of Moses, the law. God did everything for them, took care of them, feed them brought them water, manna from heaven, quail from heaven, and water from rocks. How could they ever think God was not the most powerful awesome God that had the power and authority over all creation? But something went wrong, for we see that God was not pleased with them, and their bodies were scattered over the desert. What happened to them? What in the world did they do to get that kind of treatment from God? Why did he let them die all over the desert? Could we ever be in the same situation? We are going to see in the next verses what they had done and so we need to leave that for that to deal with? But we know it is not a good thing to be in a situation with God not being pleased with us. If we are in Christ, what would ever cause him to be unpleased? We are going to find out. But we should note that this truth is of his provisions for everything we need is true. We need not, or should not look to anything else for our provisions, especially ourselves. If we think for one minute that we are the source of what we have, we are in real danger. God is our source and we should never forget that, not ever. If we get puffed up because of our wealth it is because we think we are the source of it. If we act like we are someone special or better than others because of the quality or quantity of our homes, cars, clothes, or toys we are in massive danger. God has provided it all for a purpose, for a plan that he has for our life. He is leading us somewhere and we need to follow his lead. 

Running

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

RUNNING

1 Cor 9:24-10:1

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

NIV

Are we looking for any rewards, any compensation, any praise or some form of a prize, a crown during our earthly life? Do we live as if the Kingdom of God exists to benefit us in some way while we stole aimlessly through life, with no real direction, or purpose? Do we in fact stroll through life with no real purpose other than to live our life to satisfy the needs we seem to have? Do we even work in the field of our dreams or somehow end up employed, not really knowing how he ever got there? What purpose do we serve in the grand scheme of things? Do we even know what our purpose is, other than our daily life? It appears we are to be runners in a race, which of course has a well laid out course, specifically designed to bring us to the finish line. We cannot wander around the course as if we are not interested in the arriving at the finish line and claiming our prize. We must recognize we have a purpose as runners in this race, and that is to reach the finish line. But in order to win the prize we need to be in strict training, continually developing our running skills, our bodies, our minds, and yes, in this case, and our spirits. We have the most excellent coach for this training and it is up to us to listen and obey His instructions. As we listen carefully to how we should train, we grow in our understanding of our purpose in the race, in running the race. In our training and running of this race, we can give all the credit to our great coach we have not only qualified us to run in the race, but has prepared us to win. We cannot afford to be distracted by the crowds cheering for us, and begin to think we are such a great runner. We must always see our purpose of bringing praise, honor and glory to our trainer, our coach, our Lord and Savior. 

All for All

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

ALL FOR ALL

1 Cor 9:19-23

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

NIV

The point here is that we should not hold so fast, be so rigid in our way of doing things that we make everyone feel so uncomfortable around us that they what absolutely nothing at all to do with the gospel. Does that mean we have to forfeit our beliefs? Absolutely not, Paul sure didn’t, but he lived with love in his heart toward all men, so as to win them to Christ. We need to be able to identify with people, no matter their background, or current situation in life. If they dress different then we so, if they wear their hair with funny colors streaked through it, if they smoke and drink, if they use foul language, if they are covered in tattoos, or have face jewelry, if they have body odor, we need to love them, identify with where they are so as to share Christ with them. If they are super intelligent, if believe in numerology, if they believe God is a woman, if they chose to believe there is no God, if they think we are weak minded and use religion as a crutch, we need to be able to identify with them, recognize where they are coming from so we can share the gospel in a way that it makes sense to them, in order to win them to Christ. But if we stand with our arms folded, our minds closed, holding them in contempt because they do not believe in Christ, passing judgment on them as sinners, we are foolish and weak minded. If all we can do is conduct conversations about the gospel, we limit our opportunities to engage with those who need Jesus. If we hold them off at arm’s length because they are different then we are, we will never be able to hug them with the love of Christ. If we can learn to be like Paul, and identify with them, understand where they are coming from, know their struggle, which requires getting to know them, sending time with them, then we might share the love of Christ with them. Were we not once one of them? Maybe we do not consider that we ever were like them, that we were born saved, lived a pure and holy life from our first breathe, but that simply is not so. Have we forgotten from where we came? All things for all people. 

Compelled

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

COMPELLED

1 Cor 9:15-18

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast. 16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it.

NIV

What then are we to think? We have learned that a preacher has the right to make his living from the gospel, yet we also see here that at least Paul will not claim that right. Are to think that it is far better to preach the gospel without compensation? Was Paul the only one who was compelled to preach the gospel? Is that why he felt he has to do it voluntarily? Is that the same reason any of us do anything for the Kingdom of God? Do we voluntarily serve in whatever capacity we serve in because we are compelled to do so, or because we think that is what we are supposed to do? Do we serve in the church so others may see us serving, or because we think others expect that of us? Do we serve because we were asked to by the pastor or someone else in authority, or do we serve because we are compelled to by God? It would appear the only time a reward by God is available for our service to Him would be if we are doing it voluntarily because we are compelled by Him to serve. If we preach the gospel or serve in any way for any other reason it would make sense we have already received our reward. We may have the praise of men, but may not have the praise of God. If we preach the gospel or serve in some way looking for some sort of compensation then we are not offering our service for free. Should we be compensated in any way out of the free will of others without any expectation from us would be another thing, but to expect anything for what we do, is simply not acceptable. Do we think “Woe to me” if we are not doing something for the Kingdom of God? Do we actually think that, if all we do is just attend church and are not involved in some way to benefit the Kingdom? We have to be careful not to judge others by that standard, for we should only judge our own motives, our own thoughts, and our own reasons for what we do or what we do not do. Do we need a check up from the neck up? Are we or are we not compelled?

No Hindering

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

NO HINDERING

1 Cor 9:12-14

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

NIV

We probably should not be breaking this whole discussion about what to do about people who serve the Lord on what appears to be a full time basis, yet there are truths within each section for us to notice. Although Paul had just argued that he has just as much if not more right to support, he now says he does not use that right, so as to not hinder the gospel. What we must ask ourselves is whether we do anything which hinders the gospel. It appears Paul would put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel. What are we willing to put up with for the sake of the Gospel? Would we keep our mouths shut if insulted? Would we refrain from any activity if we knew a non-believer was watching and weighing the validity of the gospel based on us? Do we value our own being, our own self-worth more than the Gospel? If the gospel is the most valued thing we have, do we lock it up and keep it all for ourselves as we do with the valued material items we own, or do we give away to all those we come in contact with? Or do we expect our hirelings, those who preach the gospel and make their living from it, to do all the work? Another though about making a living from the gospel would be for all us of as we share the gospel with others, we do the Lords will and thus we are making a living, an eternal living from the gospel. But we know that salvation, eternal life is free, and thus that might not apply, but still an interesting thought. Nevertheless we must still consider this fact of hindering the gospel. We must examine our thoughts and our behaviors, our actions and reactions, in and out of the presence of others. The scripture says we are what we think. If we are not thinking correctly about the gospel we will not behave correctly either and thus might be guilty of hindering it. So then we need to think about actually putting up with anything and remain true to the gospel so as will not be a hindrance to it.  

Sowing and Reaping

DEVOTION

1 CORINTHIANS

SOWING AND REAPING

1 Cor 9:7-12

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

NIV

The continuation of his defense is within this passage but at the same time we also can see that it is appropriate for those who sown spiritual seeds to except to be supported by those who the seeds were sown. We cannot be sure if this was meant as a salary, or simply a free will offering. Of course today we have turned it into salaries and even incomes that are commensurate with the lifestyle of those who support them. We might even see that some seed sowers life much higher than those who support them. In fact we have seen some of those television “Evangelists” living so large it stagers the mind, and on the backs, or wallets, of those they have deceived. Yet we also have some “Men of the cloth” that shepherd such a same congregation that they have needed to find employment outside the church to help support their family and thus are only a “Sunday morning” pastor, perhaps an afterhours one. There is such a disparage in this principle of supporting those who sow spiritual seeds. Now again does this only apply to those who are considered hirelings of the church? What about all those people who spend so much of their time investing spiritual truths, sowing spiritual seeds among the children in Sunday schools?  Shouldn’t they be able to expect support? What about those others who spend so much time practicing to be a part of a band, or choir, in order to be a part of leading people into the throne room of God at the beginning of gatherings, shouldn’t they except some kind of support? What about all the others who serve in so many different ways, investing time and effort in order to help others gain some spiritual growth? Is this only about the hirelings? Are they the only ones who deserve to have support? Maybe we are looking at this principle in such a limited view we are missing the whole point. Should we not see that anyone who sows spiritual seeds among others is supposed to have some sort of material compensation from those who have gained from those people’s efforts, irrespective of position or title in the Body of Christ? But in our postmodern church that simple does not happen. What has happened to sowing and reaping?