God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
1 Corinthians 10:23-33[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 20th, 2012
When you buy food at the grocery store, do you think about other people?
Do you think about God?
And what does food you eat have to do with other people anyway?
Eating is not complicated; but eating should be considerate. Let's read our text…
23 "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
26 For "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, 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 your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
4:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Message for today: Use your Christian liberty with food to strengthen the church, win the lost, and glorify God.
To strengthen the church.
We are to think in terms of helping brothers and sisters grow in their faith, and not putting stumbling blocks in their path. Words used in this line of thinking are, 'profitable', 'build up', 'good', 'please', and 'for their sake'.
To win the lost to Christ.
When interacting with those who don't know Christ yet, we are, as a believer, to be aware of their preferences/idolatries and we are to do what we do with the hope of their conversion prominently in our thinking!
To give glory to God.
Giving glory to God when eating or drinking, or whatever you do. Maybe we don't think of God's glory when we're eating a meal, but Paul did, and he was led by the Holy Spirit to teach the church this truth – which means that God is concerned about His glory through our eating choices.
Verse 31 is pretty central to this text as a summary of this portion of Scripture and also of this conversation from 8:1-11:1. " So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." The word 'glory' means, "Something that is worthy of praise or exaltation; brilliance; beauty; renown." God's glory has two aspects. First is His inherent or intrinsic glory that simply radiates from His being. No one gives Him this; it is His, and His alone, and always will be. But the second aspect is ascribed glory. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Ps 29:1-2) In this second category anything we do that rightly reflects His character and commands points to Him in a good way. Our obedience gives Him glory; our humility gives God glory. So does our evangelism, thanksgiving, fruit bearing, trusting Him, suffering for Christ, being content, praying, and confessing sin. And here we learn even our eating and drinking should glorify God![2]
As believers, we are free to enjoy all foods. As believers who are concerned about God's glory, the good of other believers, and the salvation of lost people facing God's eternal wrath, we do well to use that freedom wisely.
There are four general principles about food here and from related Scriptures to help us learn how to live this out…
1. God gave us all things to enjoy. V 26 (Ps 24:1), Acts 10, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, - all things. Not just things that you view as healthy or pleasing, but all things. This has to do more with Jewish separatism than dietary preferences, I think – but it was both to Peter. Jews couldn't stand to think of eating what Gentiles ate; the OT 'kosher' diet was one of the things that set them apart from the rest of the world, those who weren't God's people. Then God told Peter to not let this dietary uniqueness separate him from Gentiles any longer – eat with them, and take the gospel to them. Paul taught that some ascetics (people who think they're made righteous because of strict limitations they place on themselves) would teach that marriage and eating certain foods was evil – and he called those 'teachings of demons'!
2. Food isn't to be used to harm another person's conscience. 28-29 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-- I do not mean your conscience, but his.
If it is just about what kind of meat, eat what you enjoy. If it become about what kind of idol or false god this food was offered to, then it becomes unwise and inconsiderate to eat it. While we don't have to face this too much these days, it still can become an issue on certain mission fields, and we pray that God raises up more missionaries and sends them around the world from this church. I will include drink here as well, since Paul does in v 31; but this isn't about alcohol and drunkenness, it's more about idolatry.
3. Food isn't to be avoided because of other people's legalism. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
If someone in your small group thinks it is nasty or even unholy to eat certain foods, you could graciously refrain from bringing that food to their house, or having it when you host your small group because you know some of them find it very distasteful. But if you want to eat that food at your home and with friends who enjoy it – eat it! There is no sin. And you should not be driven to eat or not to eat because others have too sensitive a conscience. The other part of being considerate is to help believers mature in their knowledge of God's Word so that they're not continually or easily offended by others' freedom.
4. Enjoy all that God gives you to eat with gratitude toward God. 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? This is why we give thanks, and why we, 'say the blessing' before we eat. We are simply acknowledging God's good provision with thanksgiving, and we're asking His blessing on the food we are about to eat. [Tim Hawkins gets some mileage out of people about to eat chips, pop, and candy bars praying, "Lord, please bless this food to the nourishment of my body". He says that would be a miracle.] Church, gratitude is a constant drum beat throughout the song of the Scriptures. Let us get that beat in our heads for good.
So when you go to the grocery store or when you eat with others, think of these things… Other than our nourishment and joy, Use your Christian liberty with food to strengthen the church, win the lost, and glorify God.
Paul says, 'Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.' Before that he tells us, 'I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.'
Eating is not complicated; but eating should be considerate.
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
[2] Some of these insights found in John A. MacArthur's New Testament Commentary, 1 Corinthians. Copyright © 1984 by the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved.
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