I have to say, right off the bat, I love this passage. It is a reminder to us as Christians that God's heart is not for us to have all knowledge, but to LOVE.

The issue of contention in this passage is whether eating food previously offered to idols is sin or not. Paul makes it clear that it isn't a sin. Idols are nothing, therefore food offered to them isn't tainted (vs. 4).

In verses 7-8 Paul explains that eating or not eating these foods doesn't change our status in God's eyes. "For neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse" (vs. 8). This brought up an interesting thought in my mind, which may prove to be contentious in and of itself: Boycotting products.

I have had several people tell me, "I won't buy Starbucks because they don't support our President," (when Bush was in office), or "I won't buy this or that," because the company supports gay rights, or is pro-choice or aligns themselves with some other non-Christian ideology. I personally won't shop at Abercrombie and Fitch because their catalogs and ads are pornographic. However, if I did, I don't believe it would make a difference in God's eyes. The clothes, in and of themselves, are just clothes. I simply don't want my money going to a company I don't support. My point here is, we must be careful not to judge those people who choose, or don't choose, to "boycott" a company, product, etc. I can't look at a Christian brother or sister who wears and Abercrombie and Fitch shirt, and think to myself, "Wow, that person is so worldly. If only they were as goldy as me." They have liberty in that area, so they, with a pure conscience, can wear those clothes. For me, it would be sin, because the Bible says,


It is easy to build a conviction, and have expectations that everyone else should follow the same conviction. It's a tough area, and we must be careful not to push our convictions on other believers, if the Word has not expressly spoken one way or another to whether we have liberty in that area or not. On a similar note, believers should also be careful to not put themselves under bondage, when Christ has made us free. But, for the sake of a weaker believer, may we all choose to build up one another in love, rather than flaunt our liberties and cause another to stumble.

1 Corinthians 7 is a great chapter, all about marriage and how to serve the Lord in and out of relationships. It also makes it clear that it is NOT a sin to marry (vs. 28), so for all of those Catholic priests who have fallen into sexual sin, that should be a consideration.

Paul first encourages us to be content in our current state, whether married or single. Don't seek to change the present circumstance of where God has you. But, either way, the time is short, as he says in verse 29. Our days are numbered, Christ is coming soon, so whether we are married or single, we should serve the Lord with everything we have! We need to use our time wisely, making the most of every moment.

This idea really struck me, especially as I read the following verses, 32-35:

"But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please [his] wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please [her] husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction."

As a wife and mother (especially as a mother), I can see how differently my time is used compared to when I was single, and it is definitely tougher to do the things I want to do. My involvement in ministry has slowed down quite a bit. But, I still need to serve the Lord without distraction. I believe the lesson here is that no matter where we are in life - in school, at work, at home with kids, on the mission field, married or single - we need to do everything for the glory of God. I HATE doing the dishes, but I can do them with worship in my heart to the Lord, cheerfully, pleasing Him. We can make every moment of everyday a moment in which we do something eternal. We don't have to have constant excitement, huge rallies, conferences and crusades to glorify the Lord. Sometimes the hardest time to glorify Him is in the simplest moments of life, when we are faced with the choice of doing something with a cheerful spirit, or doing it just to get it done. Mary had chosen the better part as she sat at the feet of Jesus. Sometimes the intangibles are more important and precious to the Lord than the tangibles.

Christian accountability has been a subject that has been on my heart a lot lately, and one that is very tough to discuss. No one likes to talk about sin, no one wants to be judged, no one wants to be told their doing something wrong. And honestly, no one really wants to judge someone else. It's just awkward. To be truthful, it is much easier to let a brother or sister go on sinning, than to address it and risk losing a friendship. But this attitude is altogether unbiblical, and very dangerous.

Paul addresses this issue in 1 Corinthians 5 because the Corinthian church had a misunderstanding about how to deal with sin (in particular, the sin of incest). Paul instructed them to:

1) Deliver the offender to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that they may be saved in the ultimate judgment of Jesus Christ. Talk about tough love! (verse 5)
2) Not have fellowship or even take a meal with a believer who was living in sin. (verse 11)

Why so strict? Because, as Paul states in verse 6, a little sin can bring down many believers.

Sin is such a serious offense that it took the crucifixion of Jesus to pay the price of it. For those of us who are now made new in Christ, to go back and live in sin makes a mockery of what Jesus has done. He requires purity and righteous living from us. To ignore the sinful lifestyle of a brother or sister is unloving and dangerous because that person is in a precarious spot before the Lord (1 Cor. 6:9-10). I'm not saying there is never a time to show grace, because there most definitely is. But in this passage Paul mentions specific lifestyles of fallen believers that we are to stay away from which include sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, reviling, drunkeness and extortion. I believe he has listed these because they are the most infectious to the Body of Christ. And it's not just the lifestyle he is requiring them to stay away from, but also the believers living in those lifestyles.

Obviously people have slip-ups here or there. But when it comes to a brother or sister who is actively pursuing a lifestyle of sin, we must deal with that, and Paul makes it clear that it should be dealt with severely. There are ground rules about how to deal with sin, and should always be done in love, with the goal of restoration. I don't believe we are called to walk around church looking for every little thing each person has done wrong, and accusing them. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, but there should be conviction, godly sorrow and repentance from sin.

I know so many people who have walked away from the Lord whose motto seems to be "stop judging me." 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 is my response to that:

"For what [have] I [to do] with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore 'put away from yourselves the evil person.'"

This is God's Word, not mine. We judge those on the inside (believers), and not those on the outside (non-believers). And not because we are bitter, angry or "holier than thou;" but because of our love for the soul of every individual, including those who have walked away from the Lord. It takes wisdom, love and grace to address a brother or sister who is walking in sin. But just because it is a tough issue, doesn't mean we ignore it altogether.

What am I doing with my life each day? When I wake up, what are my goals? This passage is a reminder of who we really are as believers: Servants and Stewards. We are to obey Jesus, showing our love for Him by obeying His commandments (John 14:15). We are to choose His way above our own. What does this look like?

This is Servanthood: Spending time with Jesus when we think we don't have the time. Loving someone who we feel doesn't deserve our love. Serving those who look down on us. And, as Paul describes in chapter 3 verse 18, becoming foolish in the eyes of the world, as we seek to become wise in the eyes of God. It is surrendering our flesh, and receiving power through the Holy Spirit to become Christlike.

This is Stewardship: Managing the Word of God, the message of God, in a way that brings glory to His name. Reminding people that Jesus is coming soon. Building each other up with the promises of His Word. Living each day in the Truth and Reality of God's Word.

In these things we are to be found faithful. It is REQUIRED of us, as it says in verse 2. So each day, as I wake up and think about all that must be done, the vital thing, the thing that is REQUIRED of me today, is to be a faithful servant and steward. I am to do everything today with the motive of loving Jesus and loving others. Raising my children, serving my family, going to the store, going to work...in each moment and circumstance I am required to be a servant and a steward. As Christians we have the high calling of being imitators of Christ on this earth. Ultimately, as the remaining verses explain, it will be God who judges us. Not our boss, husband, wife, friend, pastor or neighbor. We need to examine our lives and see if we are filling our days with tasks, or if we are living each day as a servant and a steward. I went to work, cooked dinner, cleaned the house, paid the bills...but did I serve Jesus at all today? Did I do these things for the glory of His name, or just to get them done? Was I found faithful in what is REQUIRED of me today? If not, then I wasted my day.

Vs. 1-4 I love verses 1-4 because Paul is so blunt. There's no beating around the bush here. The Corinthians aren't growing spiritually, and that is a huge concern to Paul. He tells them they are behaving like mere men. Mere men! In contrast to what? To men and women who are filled and overflowing with the Holy Spirit!! The Holy Spirit transforms us from mere men and women, to men and women who have access to the very throne of God, the very power of God, who can do anything through Christ (Philippians 4:13). But, when we choose to act in our flesh, and not in the spirit, we lack the power of God, and we are just the same as the person who is spiritually dead. Paul refers to this state of being as "carnal." The Corinthians had envy, strife and divisions among them. Again, these characteristics all lack unity, and therefore, make the church ineffective. As I mentioned in a previous post, Christian unity is important because it reflects the glory and beauty of Jesus. The exhortation the Lord gave me as I read these verses was Don't give up the power of Christ for the wretched trash heap of the world. When we obey Christ and walk with Him, we are empowered, and we have what we ask, when we ask it in Jesus' name. (John 14:13-14)

Vs. 5-8 In these verses Paul makes a point to bring glory to the Lord, and away from himself. He explains that Christian workers are really nothing because God is the One doing the work. He brings the increase, and we are helpless to save. We should not glorify teachers, evangelists, etc., because they are of one spirit - that is, the spirit of God working in them.

Vs. 9 Here we are taught that we are God's fellow workers. God allows us and invites us to be a part of the work He is doing, but ultimately it is His work, not ours. That is why it is vital that we pray and seek His wisdom and direction when we minister. We need to be following His lead.

Vs. 10-15 Paul explains here that it is important that when we minister, the foundation must be Jesus, and ONLY Jesus. A church, a believer, is grown on a relationship with Jesus. Not on a methodology, a trend or a philosophy. If we try to build a foundation other than Jesus, it is worthless, and it will be judged as worthless by God. God will not be fooled or mocked, and the person who lays a foundation other than Jesus will suffer loss, as verse 15 says. I believe this loss refers to a loss of spiritual treasures in Heaven. Not a loss of what you already have, but of what you could have had. However, this is my opinion, I haven't researched it yet, so don't take my word for it.

Vs. 16-17 Paul speaks of believers as God's dwelling place, or the "temple of God." However, these verses don't talk about us keeping ourselves undefiled, but rather, is a warning to others not to defile a believer. God takes it seriously when someone mistreats His child, and God will judge that person accordingly.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how God's ways aren't our ways (Isaiah 55:8), and how this seems like such a tough lesson to learn. I think it would give us a lot of peace and freedom if we could live in this truth daily.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 speaks of how the wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. Our very salvation hinges on the cross, which is foolish in the world's eyes, but is the very wisdom of God. We need to live each day with confidence in the Lord, knowing as we seek Him that His ways are above our own. I am so happy He loves me enough to not allow my life to go the way I think it ought. I want His way, even if it's tough, or I don't understand it, or I can't fathom the outcome. It is simply the best way.

It keeps us walking by faith, it keeps us humble, and it keeps us perpetually seeking Him when we want to walk in His will. We trust God for our salvation, so we need to trust Him each day of our lives, even for the small, seemingly insignificant issues of life. As verse 31 says, our job is to "glory in the Lord." We have it easy! Enjoy Him in all His glory, which includes His magnificent love for you. He is infinite worth. He Himself is our reward (Genesis 15:1).