Seeking Good and Glory
1 Corinthians: The Gospel for the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 41:54
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Anyone who knows me at all knows I am a bit particular and just a teensy-bit obsessive. And it all starts to make sense once you meet my mother—the wonderful woman from whom I inherited by compulsiveness. I can’t blame her fully. I’m some ways I’m much more particular; still, I believe I learned the basics from her.
It’s not all bad (unless you’re my wife or children; say a prayer for them daily, would you? They have had to figure out a way to live with this ogre who also happens to be obsessive-compulsive). It’s not without its benefits: from my mom I learned how to keep a house, how to organize, how to keep everything picked up and put away.
My sister didn’t learn the same, though we were raised the same and only two years apart. It’s funny how one of us took on all the obsessive, tidy, particular attributes and the other went in the opposite direction. Though, I must tell you, Bethany is getting better about being organized; she’s a little more tidy, but this is no thanks to Mom. Bethany’s been watching Marie Kondo’s “Tidying Up” on Netflix. We’ll see how long that lasts...
One part of my mom’s particularities focuses on table manners. Mom had very strict rules when it came to eating and other behaviors at the dinner table. She had the normal rules and some fairly odd rules: no chewing with your mouth open, no smacking; no talking with food in your mouth; after you take a bite, set your fork or spoon down on your plate while you chew that bite.
She had the napkin-in-the-lap-and-one-hand-resting-in-your-lap rule.
She had the no-elbows-on-the-table rule. This rule carried with it the most painful consequence. If my elbow found its way to the table, mom would take whichever utensil she had in her hand and smack my arm with it. Steak night was the worst; those steak knives can really cut. That’s why I wear long sleeve shirts rolled up a bit, to cover the scars.
Far and away the most important of mom’s rules for the table came into play when we were invited over to someone else’s home. We were very clear on our job: to eat whatever was served whether or not we liked it. We weren’t allergic to any food, so we couldn’t play that card. If it was put in front of us, we were to eat it and make sure we didn’t pick at it or push it aside or make any faces while eating.
I choked down a lot of things I would have rather not eaten. It obviously did me no harm. It didn’t hurt me or kill me. I do, however, believe it probably spared the feelings of all those who had invited us over to their homes throughout the years.
I believe the eat-whatever-you’re-served rule is such a significant and important rule that we’ve passed it on to our kids. It’s better to eat something you don’t like than offend or hurt the feelings of the person who made the food.
>In the city of Corinth, there’s this difficulty surrounding food. Paul’s been writing recently in the context of food, food offered to idols, and the believers’ relationship to that food. To eat or not to eat, that is the question.
We read this in chapter 8, you remember:
10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
It matters what we eat, but not so much what we eat as what kind of effect our eating has on those around us.
In our text today, Paul writes: If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.
Turns out, mom’s advice to eat whatever is put before you is biblical, but it’s not exactly what Paul meant.
It was pretty common to come into contact with idol food. As you remember from chapter 8, most, if not all, of the meat in the market had been offered as sacrifice to idols. So, accepting an invitation to dinner hosted by a friend or neighbor would present an issue, especially if they didn’t have a relationship with Jesus.
Such dinners were extremely common. These dinners served as a key to establishing the social and political network essential to the advancement and even survival in that society.
Any respectable person would hope to receive invitations to dinners in the homes of others. If you didn’t receive such dinner invitations it would show how socially unimportant you were. If you didn’t accept such invitations, you would be socially isolated.
Some of the Corinthian Christians are receiving dinner invitations from people who aren’t Christians and, naturally, they want to accept them for various reasons. The problem is that even when such meals were primarily social events, there were almost always religious components that couldn’t be ignored.
The wine would almost certainly be offered in the name of Dionysus, and false gods were likely to be honored or even sung to. Some, if not all, of the food would have been previously offered to some false god to whom thanks was given for the joyful occasion of the dinner.
And still Paul says: “Eat whatever is put before you.”
In chapter 8—the last time we spoke about food at length—the discussion was focused upon how the Corinthians’ actions affected their brothers and sisters—their fellow Christians—especially those who were new in their faith or weak in their belief.
In chapter 10, Paul wants the Corinthians (and us!) to consider how our behavior might affect the unbelievers with whom we interact.
How do we relate to them?
If they invite us over for dinner, do we go? Do we eat what they serve? How does all this work?
How are we to relate to those who don’t believe in and belong to Christ?
>If you have your Bible (and I hope you do) please turn with me to 1 Corinthians 10. If you are able and willing, please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word, out of reverence for Him:
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “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.
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 an 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 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. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom 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?
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 everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!
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Paul takes this issue—a real sticky-wicket—and gives guidance by offering two considerations: (1) what’s best for one’s neighbor and (2) what will bring the most glory to God.
Paul launches right in. He takes one of the Corinthians’ mantras and turns it around on them. The Corinthians were apparently fond of saying: “I have the right to do anything.”
And, in a way, that’s true. The believer, the Christian does have incredible, unmatched freedom in Christ. Within the bounds of God’s Law and the laws of the land, the Christian does have the right to do anything.
But Paul recognizes the trouble in this expression.
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.
You might have the right to do anything you please, but that doesn’t mean it’s beneficial or constructive. In Christ, you are free, but you have to think about whether or not what you’re doing is good for anyone but you.
Paul gets right to the crux of the matter in verse 24. It’s one of those clarifying moments, this verse.
As a kid, if I entered a building without taking off my hat, Dad would pop me in the back of the head with his hand—the hand that had the big Air Force ring on it—this verse is likewise a ringed-hand to the back of the head. Paul writes, verse 24:
24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
This is one of those applies-to-every-part-of-my-life verses, isn’t it? This is one-half of the Christian ethic.
Seek the Good of Others
Seek the Good of Others
You understand this is our task in the world, don’t you? This is how we are to behave, how we are to operate, how we are to function, especially where unbelievers are concerned.
In the scenario of what to eat, Paul puts forth a general principle: Eat anything you want, eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience. And Paul’s justification of this comes from a belief that everything belongs to God. That food might have been offered to idols, but an idol is nothing. Just because that food was offered to an idol doesn’t mean the idol has any ownership of it. Remember: everything is the Lord’s.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
Psalm 24 boldly declares that the Lord, the God of Israel (and no other deity), is sovereign Lord over all the earth. The earth does not belong to Baal or any other god, but to the Lord of Israel! He is the glorious King who reigns over all the earth and over all its inhabitants!
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
That pretty well settles it. It all belongs to Him—everything in the world, all who live on this earth…His.
This has some serious and far-reaching implications, doesn’t it? Think about it. If everything and everyone is His, that gives everything and everyone inestimable worth and value.
If that person is His (and they are), then no matter who or what, no matter race or creed or ethnicity, no matter their status, their socio-economic position, no matter their sexual orientation or political leaning—if that person is His (and they are), they are of supreme worth and highest value.
Seek the Good of Others
It’s on us to seek their good. Seek the good of others.
Sometimes I feel like I repeat myself quite a bit. But then I realize that God’s Word is pretty repetitive. Repetition is a good way to make a point. “Preacher, have the courage to repeat yourself,” said someone wiser than me.
The Bible teaches that we should seek the good of others over and again. Turn to any of the Gospels, to 1 Corinthians 8, 9, and 10, Philippians 2 or Romans 12 or Galatians 6, and you’ll find the same sentiment repeated: seek the good of others. This is our calling.
Paul is quick to point out to us whose benefit and building-up we should be seeking: the other’s.
This is based on the model of Christ, for whom all things, including the sacrifice of His own life were done for the benefit of others.
Paul poses to the Corinthians a very real and not at all hypothetical situation in verse 27: If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go...
This would have been a very common scenario. This would have come up weekly, perhaps. Several times a week possibly. What was the Christian to do?
Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) says, “Eat whatever is put before you!”
If nothing is mentioned about the origin of the food or the history of the food, the Christian is supposed to eat without asking any questions. Remember: it all belongs to God. So eat! Treat your food options at the table as you would at the market. If nothing is mentioned about the meat being offered to idols, the Christian is free to eat without fear.
It’d be a little rude and a little bit legalistic to ask where all the food came from and what had been done with each dish: “Okay, what’s the story of this steak? Tell me everything you know about this lamp chop.”
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.
Food with an unknown history is not a problem for the Christian. It’s food that’s been identified as being used for sacrifice that is.
The Christian isn’t to eat that particular food. And that could be awkward. It might mean excusing oneself from the dinner.
But this is done for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.
In our striving to seek the good of the other, we will understand that our behavior has an effect on others.
You see, the friendly pagan would be aware of the Christian’s issue with food offered to idols and probably expected the Christian to say, “No, thank you,” and pass the food down the line.
If the Christian doesn’t abstain from identified idol food, the other might think that Christian behavior and belief are inconsistent. They might label that person a hypocrite.
Application #1: In seeking the good of the other, we must live a consistent life. A life of integrity. If people know I’m a Christian but I don’t behave or speak or live as a Christian, the label “hypocrite” is appropriate.
Of course, we’re all going to fail at this. But when we do, we own it, we apologize, and seek to make this right.
Living a consistent Christian life is one way we seek the good of the other.
If the Christian doesn’t abstain from identified idol food, the other might think that the Christian doesn’t have any problem with pagan religion.
Application #2: In seeking the good of the other, it’s imperative, it’s absolutely crucial we speak the truth. We can’t give the impression that we don’t have a problem with the unbeliever’s unbelief. We can’t be okay with or sit idly by while people persist in unbelief. We want them to know Christ. We can’t let on for a second that there’s nothing wrong with their lack of faith in Jesus. Their pagan belief, their trust in any other god, their adherence to a false religion will lead them to hell. We must make very clear that there is only one way to be saved: faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Remaining silent, failing to speak up is not an option. Leaving a person to believe that their false religion is okay is not seeking their good; it’s allowing their eternal destruction.
If the Christian does abstain, pass the food down the line, and/or excuse themselves from the meal, that would open the door for discussion; it might serve a positive function in the spread of the gospel, to offer a clear critique of paganism, and lead to an opportunity to explain and defend the Christian position.
Application #3: Our goal in seeking the good of the other is ultimately telling them about Jesus—His exclusive/inclusive offer. Jesus is the only way to be saved (exclusive), but any and every type of person is welcome (inclusive). We must look for every opportunity to spread this good news.
This is Paul’s goal:
33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
We cannot be selfish. A selfish Christian is a contradiction in terms. What you want, what’s good for you is not what is most important.
When “Grandma Jam” was here staying with us, she’d give the kids a challenge to complete each day at school. One challenge was: “Let someone go ahead of you in line.”
Patience responded immediately: “I can’t do that!!!!”
“Oh, yes you can,” I replied. “Remember: we are not a selfish people.”
We are to selflessly seek the good of others at every opportunity, with every part of our lives, down to what we eat or don’t eat.
We are to seek the good of others at every turn; likewise we are to seek the glory of God at all times, in every way, in everything we do.
Seek the Glory of God.
Seek the Glory of God.
Paul concludes his discussion of idol food in these last few verses, using the conjunction “So” or “Therefore” at the start of verse 31.
Whether your eat, whether you drink, whether you do something else, do everything for the glory of God.
Paul wants the Corinthians (and us) to realize that even in the most mundane aspects of life (such as eating and drinking) we should concern ourselves with the glory of God.
He also wants the Corinthians (and us) to understand that, in their day, eating and drinking were prime opportunities for entanglement in idolatrous activities. There was no more public or frequent opportunity to get mixed up in idolatry than in eating or drinking. So Paul tells them to watch out, to make sure that their eating, their drinking, their whatever else they do is not giving glory to any but God.
The point is that the Corinthians should think, we should think not about the exercise of our rights or freedoms or desires, but about the impact our behavior has on God’s honor and glory.
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
This verse is the goal of this section. In fact, chapters 8-10 can be summed up in this one sentence.
God is to be glorified in the world through His people.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Glorifying God in this context means avoiding offense to others—Jews, Greeks, or the church of God.
We don’t want to cause anyone to stumble because of us. We want their good and the glory of God, and so we live and work to that end.
Paul’s desire is not his own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
The good of many is the salvation of many. And the salvation of many is to the glory of God.
When people are saved from their sins, when they turn from their sins, when they repent of their unbelief or their mis-belief, and are drawn by God to faith in Him, God is glorified.
How do we glorify God? We glorify God by telling others about Him. How do we seek the good of others? By telling them about His great love.
Paul concludes this section by telling the Corinthians to follow his lead:
1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Paul’s seeking the good of others: sharing the gospel, telling others about Jesus, at the expense of his own good. He willingly lays down his rights, gives up his freedom, puts his life on the line for the sake of others.
Paul isn’t charting his own course; he’s following the example of Christ who gave up His rights, gave up His freedom and glory, and put His life on the line for the sake of others, for my sake and yours.
This is love.
My friend Mike Bergman who pastors in Adrian defines love as “the commitment to happily seek the best for others.”
Seeking good and glory is simply love—happily seeking good for others and glory for God.
This Valentine’s week, your job is clear: to love God and neighbor. Now sure, remember some flowers and chocolates for your wife, but even more, Christian, let us be seeking good and glory.
Let us love God primarily and love our neighbors as ourselves.