1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 - Principle of edification

In the remaining verses of this chapter Paul went on to tie up some loose ends.

The issue was how far should one’s liberty go? Paul proposed that it should go beyond the question of legality to the question of helpfulness and edification. It should not be “Is it legal?” but “Is it helpful and does it edify?”  

Here there was another matter, what about food sold in the market by worshippers of idols or slain by pagan priests.  To Paul buying anything sold in the market was perfectly legal. One need not know whether it was offered to idols or not. For Paul the earth belongs to the Lord and everything it contains (Psalm 24:1).    

In his earlier discussion, Paul maintained that eating food offered to idols in the temple is absolutely no-no. But it would be different when eating in a different environment. If invited to a meal by an unbeliever and the invitation was accepted, the person should just eat without asking question so that nobody’s conscience need to be affected.  However, if alerted by someone that the food were offered to idols, then do not eat it. Think of the informant and for conscience’ sake don’t eat it. A believer must act in a way that he would not stumble his brothers who may be from a different culture, the Jews, Greeks and fellow believers. The welfare of our brothers should be considered and don’t insist on one’s better understanding and right to do anything he deems fit.  

 

However, Paul made sure that the principle of Christian liberty was not threatened. The liberty of a Christian should not be judged by the conscience of another person. A believer must not allow his own conscience to play trick on him and think that he is doing something evil by the mere act of eating the food. He will refrain from eating to avoid hurting the other person’s conscience; but in his own mind he knows he has a right to eat this food.

Paul summed up by saying that whatever he did, he did it all for the glory of God. Whether in eating or drinking he applied the same principle. He adapted himself so as not to give offence to anyone. His did not go for self-profit but the profit of the whole in order to reach them for Christ. So in 1 Corinthians 11:1 he asked the church to imitate him just as he also imitated Christ.

Seeking the good of all. What a needful principle to maintain unity and progress. We must have a gentle grasp over the convictions we have. Let’s seek always to obey the Word of God.