Road Tests for Freedom (1 Corinthians 8-10)
INTRODUCTION:
We’re in a series called Road Trip with Paul and today we’re looking at a part of a letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. Paul had spent about a year and a half in Corinth, establishing a church in that thriving Port City. The advice he wrote to that young church is valuable advice for us, 2000 years later.
Last week we looked at chapters 5,6, and 7 where Paul emphasized the importance of PURITY in the church. This week we’re going to see what Paul had to say about our Freedom in Christ, in chapters 8, 9, and 10. In this part of the letter, Paul gives us some ROAD TESTS for how we use our Christian Freedom.
Here’s the definition of ROAD TEST for a car: A test of a motor vehicle's operating capability under actual road conditions. Paul is giving advice here for how we can avoid misusing our FREEDOM in Christ under the ACTUAL ROAD CONDITIONS of life. Even though God has given us freedom to make our own choices in life, we need to keep our priorities in mind. The first thing Paul says is that when we make life decisions, LOVE must always win over KNOWLEDGE.
1. Knowledge vs. Love (Chapter 8)
1 Corinthians 8:1 explains it this way: knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
The particular situation Paul is addressing here is something that we don’t deal with today --- but it was a big deal to the Christians in Corinth. When was the last time you were in the awkward social situation of having to decide whether or not to eat meat that has been offered to idols?
It was a common situation in Paul’s day. When a person sacrificed an animal to a pagan god, the animal was divided into 3 parts: 1/3 burned; 1/3 given to the priests; 1/3 given back to the worshiper or sold on the market. The meat offered on the market was usually sold at a discounted price; in other words, it was a bargain.
Some Christians believed it was wrong to participate in ANYTHING that had connection to the pagan idols they used to worship. But many other Christians thought, “We KNOW idols aren’t real, so what’s big deal? We aren’t going to pass up a good bargain!” Wouldn’t all you “bargain hunters” feel the same way?
Paul knew that in Christ we are free from the old LAW and its many dietary restrictions. But Paul also knew that there was a higher LAW for the church – the Law of LOVE. Here’s the ROAD TEST Paul gave to the believers in Corinth: Now, about food sacrificed to idols, we know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Paul explained that, as Christians, we KNOW we have FREEDOM to eat whatever we wish. However, if using that freedom will hurt our brothers and sisters in the church, we should let LOVE win out over KNOWLEDGE. In our Christian ROAD TRIP, we run into these kinds of situations all the time.
I ran into this kind of sticky situation when I did my first summer internship at a church in Dodge City, Kansas in 1971. We were at a wedding reception where they had a glass of Champagne poured at every place setting. I actually hadn’t ever tasted “bubbly,” but I nonchalantly took a sip or two without thinking anything of it. Later, one of the middle school boys in my youth group said, “Ed, I didn’t know if I should drink that alcohol or not, but when I saw you drinking it, I figured it must be okay for me, too.” I decided right then and there that I was going to curtail my freedom in favor of setting the best example I could for any kids that might be looking at me to set the standard.
Some of the situations we face have nothing to do with things as simple as eating or drinking but everything to do with KNOWLEDGE that puffs up verses LOVE that builds up. I remember one situation where I got in an argument over DOCTRINE with a relative. We had a heated discussion, and when it was over I realized there was a lot more heat than light! I still believe I was right on my doctrine, but it’s not a matter of being right --- it’s a matter of giving light. In the end result, my puffed up argument didn’t build up anyone! Needless to say, I determined not to waste time in that kind of argument ever again.
Next time you’re confronted with a situation where you KNOW you have freedom to do or say whatever you want … and maybe you KNOW you’re in the right. Remember this first ROAD TEST. Love should always win out over Knowledge!
2. Rights vs. Rewards (Chapter 9)
The next test Paul gave on our Christian Road Trip has to do with what we focus on. Do you go through life focused on your earthly RIGHTS, or looking forward to your eternal REWARD?
As Americans, we’re all about RIGHTS – Civil Rights, Personal Rights, Political Rights, Property Rights, and so on! Everyone has rights, and most people are focused on demanding that they get their rights.
But RIGHTS are not the number one priority in God’s Kingdom. And, after all, God’s Kingdom is where our Christian Road Trip is happening.
Philippians 3:20 says, Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our focus should not be on Earthly RIGHTS, but on Heavenly REWARDS.
When you read through 1 Corinthians chapter 9, you see that Paul used himself as an example of setting aside his RIGHTS and keeping his focus on the REWARD. Paul had more RIGHTS than most. He was a specially educated Pharisee, giving him the right to Social Status in Jewish circles. He was a Roman Citizen, giving him special legal rights and protections. He had been specially called in a vision straight from Jesus Himself, giving him the rights of an Apostle in the church. But Paul makes it clear that he is willing to lay aside ALL his Rights in this life for the Rewards of eternal life.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul compares our Christian life to a race. He says, Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Next time you feel your RIGHTS have been violated, think about this analogy. Athletes have a RIGHT to eat and drink whatever they want. They have a RIGHT to stay up till all hours and sleep late the next morning. But they lay aside their rights and live a strictly disciplined life --- because they have a goal that means more to them than their short-term rights. Like an athlete, we need to keep our eyes on the prize!
In verse 26, Paul went on to say, Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
That’s a good picture of how Christians look when we fail to keep our eye on the prize. If we fail to keep our priorities straight, we look like we’re just boxing with the air. We react mindlessly to every wind that blows by, fighting battles that God hasn’t called us to fight, demanding our own way every time we have a disagreement.
Christian freedom needs to be limited, not by legalistic laws, but by the TESTS that Paul laid out to the church. LOVE wins out over KNOWLEDGE. Our focus is on our eternal REWARD more on our earthly RIGHTS.
3. Overconfidence vs. Obedience (Chapter 10)
And when you’re faced with a situation where you’re wondering whether or not you’re FREE to do something, there’s one more ROAD TEST that Paul gave. It has to do with OVERCONFIDENCE vs. OBEDIENCE.
In I Corinthians 10:12, Paul warns: So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Overconfidence is the biggest pitfall for Christians. And the solution to that problem is Obedience.
You see, Paul preceded that warning against overconfidence by talking about the Old Testament account of Israel during the time they were wandering in the wilderness before God brought them into the Promised Land.
He said, These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.
In verses 6-8, Paul gave three specific Old Testament lessons that Christians need to remember before we exercise our freedom in Christ.
• Don’t make an idol out of entertainment! (vs. 7)
In Christ, we’re free to enjoy all kinds of fun things --- but entertainments can get a hold of us and become addictions that get in the way of our relationship with Christ. As Christians, we have freedom to go to parties or play computer games or watch TV and Movies or enjoy Sports or all kinds of things. If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Don’t allow entertainments to turn into idols.
• Guard against sexual immorality! (vs. 8)
That’s pretty straight-forward. But the problem comes when we think we can flirt around the edges of immorality and never get burned. I think it’s safe to say that when Christians fall into sexual sin it’s because at some point they were OVERCONFIDENT. “We’re just close friends. It’s totally innocent. I just need to go there to relax now and then. It’s totally safe. I only visit that computer site now and then. I’d never actually DO anything like that.”
If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
2 Timothy 2:22 warns, Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
And 1 Thessalonians 5:22 tells Christians to stay away from even the appearance of evil.
Christians who OBEY these commands will limit their freedom in order to avoid sin.
The next warning Paul gave might surprise you…
• Don’t whine and grumble! (vs. 9-10)
How many of you never complained about anything? Most of us think complaining is no big deal. It can become just a way of life. We often think, “I have every RIGHT to complain because… (fill in the blank)” We need to realize that grumbling and complaining is a sin in God’s eyes.
Paul refers to the Israelites wandering in the wilderness 1 Corinthians 10:verses 9-10 when he says, We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
The back-story here is that the Israelites complained in the wilderness that they missed the good food back in Egypt (conveniently forgetting their slavery.) They now had FREEDOM, but they used that freedom to whine and grumble against Moses, and even against the God who was their provider.
Many times when we grumble, we’re doing the same thing. We use our freedom to complain against God because we’re not content with the life He’s given us. According to Paul, we are actually putting Christ to the test with our whining and grumbling. When we use our freedom of speech to complain, we are actually insulting the very one who gave us that freedom!
CONCLUSION:
Paul summed up our Road Tests for Freedom this way: I have a right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. I Corinthians 10:23-24
Let’s remember to apply these Road Tests when we exercise our Freedom.
• When you KNOW that you are free to do something, remember that LOVE is more important than Knowledge.
• When you feel like demanding your Rights, remember to keep your eyes on the prize. We don’t live for earthly rights, we live for eternal rewards.
• And don’t fall into the trap of overconfidence. If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Remember that Obedience to God’s Word will keep you from falling.
1 Corinthians 10:31 is the verse to end this talk about how to exercise our Freedom in Christ.
Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
This one verse sums up everything we talked about today.
When it comes to making decisions about how to use your freedom in Christ, simply ask yourself, Will what I am about to do or say bring glory to God?
