1 Corinthians 10
Temptations will come. But God will make a way for you to escape and endure it. As He reveals the means and path to take, do not delay. And remember, you will not be tempted beyond what you are able to endure.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.—1 Corinthians 10:13
Genesis 4:3-8 – And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Though Cain’s offering had nothing to do with his brother’s, he became angry. God provided Cain with an opportunity to provide a respectful offering, he only needed to do well. However, instead of desiring to do well to change how God viewed his next offering, he sought to kill his brother out of his anger.
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1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1. There are many compartments in our lives. Many Christians live their lives like train compartments. One compartment may represent their home life; another compartment is for work; and another for church, etc. Each compartment carries its own set of rules, standards, and customs.
In the compartment of our home life (for example), we may act, lead, and love according to our upbringing and our position in the home. Because the home is closed to the outside world (unless you welcome people over), you will often be the most ‘loose’ with your mouth and behavior than in any other compartment.
The work ‘compartment’ encompasses another set of rules, standards, and customs separate from the home compartment. Some work centers encourage (or influence) people to dress, talk, and conduct themselves in a specific manner to be accepted or promoted. There is an unwritten desire or need to become one of the ‘guys or girls’ in the office where they are known by their superiors positively. In many work centers, the goal is to reach the ‘top,’ and many do so without the slightest concern for how they get there. Such strivings may influence or ‘encourage’ people to compromise their moral standards and conduct.
The church ‘compartment’ is fitted with a set of rules, standards, and customs different from the other two. This compartment is filled with outward displays of piety and godliness. Some churches also carry specific (or unwritten) rules for dress or conduct. Additionally, congregations will often worship the Lord in similar fashion (based on their affiliation or cultural background). Their children are well kept and their family is pictured as the Christian model for all, even if this is not true in the home compartment.
2. Only one rule must exist among our life compartments. Our lives may have different compartments of home, work, church, etc., but only one rule must govern them all, to the glory of God. Jesus has given two great commandments that should govern our conduct (Matthew 22:36-40).
As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he stated that whether they ate, drank, or whatever they did, to do it for the glory of God. Some definitions of glory from the translated Greek are magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; majesty; the kingly majesty that belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity.1 In every thing we do and in every situation, God is to be glorified.
3. How to glorify God in each compartment of life.
Some people would ask, ‘how do I glorify God in eating or drinking?’
If we look back on the definition of glory above and consider the things that we eat, drink, and do on a daily basis, consider this:
- Do you eat to where you become gluttonous? Filthy? Pig-like? Do you eat foods that God would not be pleased to see you eat? Do you eat fattening foods that cause you to gain excessive weight, creating numerous health problems? Would this type of eating honor God and your body, where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)?
- For the things you drink, do you become drunk with alcohol (even if it is in your own home)? Do you drink to the point where you would dishonor your own body by consuming liquids that are clearly unhealthy and destroy your body? Would the Lord be pleased and glorified?
- What about your conduct… When working with difficult bosses, do you apply Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:38-45? Or do you treat them like the world would treat them, curse at them, and ensure they know you don’t like them? Do you work each task and responsibility to the best of your ability? Do you love others as yourself and give each person the very best of what you have to give?
4. Living for God’s glory is moment-to-moment. Living for God’s glory requires a concentrated effort with each situation and circumstance. It will require some of the following (this is not an exhaustive list):
- Times of prayer and intimacy with the Lord throughout the day
- Bridling the tongue from speaking falsely, course joking, and saying evil things (Proverbs 21:23; Ephesians 4:29, 5:1-4; James 1:26, 3:3-13)
- Meditating on scriptures throughout the day that help us stay focused on the Lord (Psalm 1:1-3)
- Fellowship with like Christians that motivate and encourage you
- Remaining unspotted from the world and its ways (this may require separating yourself from certain events and people) – Psalm 1:1; James 1:27
1 – Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Search for doxa (Strong’s 1391)”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2012. 26 Jan 2012. http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1391&t=KJV
What is Doctrine?
Doctrine is considered an instruction or teaching that can be learned or developed through experience. Doctrine is associated with a person’s beliefs; the way they ‘see,’ perceive, or relate to the world around them. Each person has a countless number of doctrines on the issues, people, and situations they experience on a daily basis. The number of doctrines a person has is countless and continues to be shaped and expanded throughout a person’s lifetime.
Within Christianity, sound biblical doctrine is based on the biblical teachings, experiences, pastors, ministers, and interactions with fellow brothers and sisters in the local church community. Within the context of this message, doctrine will encompass God’s Word. God’s Word is the foundation of good sound doctrine:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Food is fuel for the body.
A car needs fuel to run. You can’t put any type of fuel in it. It has to be the one specifically made for the car. If you put the wrong fuel into it or any other foreign substance (i.e. sugar), the car will cease to run properly or stop running altogether.
Just as a car needs fuel to run properly, we do as well. Our bodies are made to run efficiently, but without the right nutrients, we will not function the way we were designed and will not perform well. Sadly, within America and some places around the world, people eat for taste, not for fuel.
We often eat foods for taste and don’t consider the nutrition level, and when we do, we’ll get a diet version or a low-calorie portion.
Think about some of your favorite foods. Do you eat them because they are good for you or because they taste good?
Many of us grew up learning eating habits based on the way things taste and not how good they are/are not for our bodies and our performance.
- Ice cream tastes good, but what nutritional value is in it?
- Chips and dip taste good, but what nutritional value is in it?
- Candy tastes good, but what nutritional value is in it?
- Pizza tastes good, but what nutritional value is in it? Sure, some people want a veggie pizza (to clear their conscious), but what about the sauce and bread? Have you considered that?!
- Soda – tastes good, but not good for us.
- Fast food – most of it has no nutritional value. It’s only a filler and soothes taste buds.
We live for the taste. We have been inundated with foods that are not healthy, but guess what, people that sell these items only care about your money, not your health.
May each of us be challenged and convicted to change our eating habits in order to feed our bodies only what is necessary to keep it running smooth and efficient. The next time you eat, ask yourself if that (thing) benefits or harms your health.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
How can you glorify God in your eating and drinking?
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/StephenHay
Temptation is similar to the cheese on the mousetrap. Though WE understand the purpose of the mousetrap (to kill the mouse), the mouse is only drawn to the potential ‘benefit’ of having something to eat. The mouse has no concern of its location or any associated dangers…just a desire to be fed. In the end, it is the desire that leads to its demise.
What about you? What desire is drawing you to the trap of sin?
There are times when we wish we had a million-dollar budget, had direct access to the President’s private line, and could harness any talent imaginable. Yet, in reality, we seem to have a very limited budget, little access to anyone, and hardly the skills necessary to get the job done the way you desire.
Do the best you can with what you have.
Serving the Lord isn’t about having the best, most expensive, or some technologically savvy ministry. Serving the Lord is about giving Him and others the absolute best of your ability. The Lord will honor your service before Him as you do it unto Him for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). You don’t need these things to be effective and reach people for Jesus Christ.
You may not have the most talent or the best resources, but you have access to the ONE that has all power in His hands.
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Why do I always have to go through trials and temptation? I don’t want to continue facing the same things over and over and over AND OVER again! I just want to be free.
Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever felt like the Apostle Paul when he said that when he wants to do right, sin is right there (Romans 7:21)? OR the things you want to do you don’t do, but the things you don’t want to do, THAT you find yourself doing (Romans 7:15)? Many of us can relate to Paul’s statements of temptation and sin, but we often stop there without going any further. We continue to live in a cycle that goes from temptation-sin-repentance-temptation-sin-repentance and it never seems to stop. We want to get off the merry-go-round, but it doesn’t seem like we ever can. Why do I have to go through this? Why can’t God just take it away because He knows I want to serve Him. If I didn’t have this ‘sin’ issue, I could just run for Him.
Matthew 5:38-42 – Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
At some point in our lives, we have all heard ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ When I was a child, I heard people say, ‘if someone hits you, hit them back.’ As children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus provided ‘guidelines’ for our behavior and actions (as illustrated in the scripture above). Though it may seem His ways are foreign, it is the world’s ways that are foreign to believers of Christ (Ephesians 2:18-22; Hebrews 11:1-13; 1 Peter 2:9-12).
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