1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
23 All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.
24 No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his neighbor.
25 Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions, for the sake of conscience;
26 for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions, for the sake of conscience.
28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of that one who informed you and for the sake of conscience.
29 Now by “conscience” I do not mean your own, but the other person’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered about that for which I give thanks?
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.
32 Do not offend Jews or Greeks, or the church of God;
33 just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.
<Chapter 11>
1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Limiting Freedom
Three principles
In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul wrote that, fundamentally, whether one eats meat offered to idols is a matter of individual freedom. Building on that foundation, he goes on to add three further principles regarding Christian liberty. (1) Christians have freedom, but not everything is beneficial. (2) Likewise, not everything builds up others. (3) The ultimate principle is to seek not your own benefit, but the benefit of others. From these principles, we learn that Christian liberty is to be exercised in order to serve others and to build them up.
Concerning the issue of the meat once again
Based on the three principles above, Paul once again addresses the issue of meat offered to idols (1) Meat sold in the marketplace may be eaten freely. The reason is that “the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains” (Ps.24:1). (2) Likewise, if you are invited to dine at the home of an unbeliever, you may freely eat whatever is set before you. (3) However, if a believer (most likely someone who is weak in faith) says, “This is meat offered to idols,” then you must not eat it, for the sake of that person, so that you will not cause them to stumble. (4) The most important principle for believers is that whether they eat or drink, or whatever they do, they do all for the glory of God. (5) Furthermore, they are to seek not their own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that many may be saved. These teachings can be summarized in the following two phrases: “love for God” and “love for your neighbor” (Matt. 22:37-39). Even the practical issues of daily life that may seem complicated at first will begin to find their solution when these two kinds of love become our guiding goal. Finally, Paul says, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” This serves as the answer to the problem of divisions that was raised at the beginning of this letter. Paul imitated Christ. Therefore, to imitate Paul is to imitate Christ. Where this is practiced, division gives way to unity – the unity that is found in Christ. May we also have the mind of Christ as our own.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, please allow me to walk with the mind of Christ as my own today. In whatever I do, may I bring glory to You alone. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.