August 3
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SEEK NOT YOUR OWN ADVANTAGE
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?
– 1 Corinthians 10:23-30
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In this letter, Paul teaches us the principle of selflessness and of discerning what things build up others. In verse 23, he says that although we are given freedom with so much things, we are to exercise caution as to which ones are beneficial to building up others. In verse 24, he shares the secret to peace: not to seek one’s own gain, but to build others up. Sadly, many of us goes to our default setting of self-seeking tendency. Paul is full of the Holy Spirit in how he explains God’s will for his people. He wants them to set aside all self-seeking acts. Instead, he advises the Corinthian believers, to seek the advantage of others. Why is this teaching very important in a believer’s life? It leads us to think less of ourselves and more of others. It starves the desires of the flesh and follows the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit of God wants us to love others and show them mercy. The flesh wants to satisfy its own desires and lusts.
In verse 25, he talks about the importance of letting go of rules and legalism. The Jews followed so much rules and prohibited so many things. In this verse, he is challenging the believers to exercise freedom for the sake of conscience. What happens when we focus so much on the rules? We get trapped in guilt and fear. Then in verse 26, he reminds the believers that God owns all things, so there is no need to fear what to do and what not to do in case unbelievers engage them into sharing their meals with them. What Paul is teaching here is the principle of acceptance and letting go of rules so that they can bring Christ in their midst.
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REFLECTION
• How is seeking your own advantage against God’s law of love?