1 Corinthians 8:1-13 – What Do You Eat?

Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Next up, the Corinthians had questions about what they should be eating. However, it didn’t have anything to do with fitness or watching their weight. We have a hard time identifying with such things as leftover food used during idol worship. Today, idol worship looks a lot different than in Paul’s day, so what does this chapter say to us? (Read more on idol worship from Jeremiah 10:1-16.)

Before Paul tackles their question, he says this: “But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.” I want to love God so much He recognizes me, don’t you? I’m not sure how that line fits in with the rest of the theme of this reflection, but it sets up a great mindset for us. It has given me pause to think about what I am doing to attract God’s attention. How do we show Him our love and devotion? The Corinthians must have wondered if what they ate mattered. Continue reading “1 Corinthians 8:1-13 – What Do You Eat?”

1 Corinthians 7:25-40 – Relationship Advice

Read 1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Paul continues to handle issues on the minds of the young church. It makes me wonder how they communicated their concerns to Paul since they didn’t have texting in those days. Interestingly, Paul is giving relationship advice when he doesn’t have a significant other, including a wife. While he doesn’t claim this is a command from God, he gives God the nod when he says that the “Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted.”

Whether or not you’re interested in relationship advice yourself, Paul gives us some good counsel. Paul gives us the impression that he believes Jesus will be returning soon, and so it’s best to just keep the status quo and not make any big changes in one’s relationship status. If everyone had heeded his counsel, we wouldn’t be sitting here today reflecting on this passage. Continue reading “1 Corinthians 7:25-40 – Relationship Advice”

1 Corinthians 7:1-24 – All About Sex

Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

This is one of those passages we may need to read several times. After sharing all the wisdom Paul thought the Corinthians needed, Paul now pivots and seems to be answering what was really on people’s minds. They wanted clarity on sex, and Paul points toward marriage and relationships. We should want to know the holy plan for relationships, too, even if it’s hard to hear.

If you’re in a happy marriage, Paul’s words sting a little less. The part about fulfilling each other’s sexual needs should be a no-brainer. When you love your spouse, you want nothing more than to please them and bring them joy. God knew that the beauty of sharing our bodies during sex would be a special bond for a couple. As believers, we appreciate sex as a gift from God. Too many times, selfishness gets in the way of being able to fulfill these needs. Paul wanted to take that excuse off the table. Continue reading “1 Corinthians 7:1-24 – All About Sex”

1 Corinthians 6:1-20 – What to Avoid

Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

Entrance to the Kingdom of God has some requirements. They are not impossible to attain, and it helps to know what’s expected. Paul is addressing some pressing issues facing the young church in Corinth. You could say similar issues are still on the minds of people living in our cultures today. Paul’s counsel is quite clear.

In light of what we’re being told to avoid, reflect on this. “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything ‘—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.” How true is that! Most of us can identify with what it feels like to be able to do “anything.” We can choose to wake up when we want, when we don’t have to go to work. We can walk in the rain if we don’t care about getting wet. We can eat popcorn and ice cream for dinner, if we don’t have a parent glaring at us. As Paul says, some of those things we choose to do aren’t always good for us. We need to make wise choices. Continue reading “1 Corinthians 6:1-20 – What to Avoid”

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 – Purity of Community

Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

If you’ve never been a ministry leader who had to make the hard call of letting another leader go from serving because of their unrepentant sin, it’s harder than you might imagine. What Paul is asking the church to do here, while Biblical, is not at all easy. Relationships are at stake. But so are salvation and allegiance to the truth. There is a reason that Scripture prescribes this type of purging in our fellowship of believers.

Paul uses the perfect example for his day when he refers to yeast. Bread would have been a huge staple in their diets, and the use of yeast and understanding of how it expands the dough would be clear. You wouldn’t want tainted yeast to infest your batch of bread, so why would you want an unrepentant sinner to be part of your circle of faithful ones? Continue reading “1 Corinthians 5:1-13 – Purity of Community”

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)