Intro

This morning I was up early, and began reading 1 Corinthians, and from there gleaned a couple simple lessons from the words Paul was given by our Lord.

1. Be Authentic

1 Corinthians 17-24

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

This passage makes it clear that we are to trust the judgment of God in knowing who to call, and in leading each person on their own path in accordance with the gifts He’s provided and the situations in which He has placed them.  Persons with unbelieving spouses should stay married, single persons should prayerfully consider remaining single, etc.

Religious leaders often want to create a standard for their followers.  I’ve attended churches where you were expected to have a certain haircut, wear certain clothes, wear (or not wear) makeup.  All of this is, like circumcision, nothing.  The material does not glorify God; however, we have to take care as we’ll see in lesson two.

2. Be Considerate

1 Corinthians 8:1, 4-12

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 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.

In lesson 1 Paul states that God knew exactly what He was doing when He called us, and that our present material circumstances and situations are not of concern to Him.  In lesson 2 he calls us to be aware of our witness.  For many of us there won’t be much of a conflict, meaning that most of us can live on our present housing, work our current job, and participate in the rest of our daily activities without running afoul of what the world has been conditioned to believe is appropriate.  For other brothers and sisters, the choices will not be as clear.  I encountered this dilemma when I worked in the entertainment industry, which was producing some content that glorified God, and an awful lot of content that certainly did not!

When we encounter a believer facing such a dilemma, lesson one tells us that it is important not to rush to judgement.  God may want them to remain in that situation and minister.  Lesson two cautions that the believer should take care to maintain that witness by letting their light shine even in dark places.  God has not called us to be lights in the sunlight, or salt on a salt heap.  Our ministries will be in the world, and we must prayerfully and lovingly support one another in this.

3. Be Willing

1 Corinthians 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, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since 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 full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Here Paul is speaking of his right to earn a material living from preaching the gospel, while at the same time being willing to forgo that right in order to reap his reward in heaven.  I particularly like the part where he states that if he doesn’t voluntarily preach, then he is merely doing his duty.  To me this suggests that we must be willing to use the circumstances God has called us in (lesson one) to be a light to those around us (lesson 2) and do so willingly, without expecting earthly rewards or recognition (lesson 3).