Love Builds Up. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 July 13,

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1 Love Builds Up 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 July 13, (Please Note: All lesson verses and titles are based on International Sunday School Lesson/Uniform Series 2010 by the Lesson Committee, but all content/commentary written within is original to wordforlifesays.com unless properly quoted/cited) Introduction: Here is an excerpt from a previous article I have written titled Know Real Love ( Human emotions are so fickle. One day we re up and the next we are down. Depending on which phase of life we are in our perception of reality can be altered by how we feel about the moment we are currently in. If we re up, then it s not hard to fathom love coming from everywhere, centering on us and making us feel good about ourselves. But, it is just the opposite when we are experiencing a down-ward phase. We can be living in a whole house full of people, right under the same roof as yourself, and feel completely devoid of love; feeling empty, as you try to hand out to others what you don t feel coming to you. Love! Love is nothing to play with. It s not a joke. It s a passion that dwells inside each of us hungering to be fed, wanting to be filled. I don t know anyone in their right mind who doesn t want to be loved. Who in the world is there that doesn t want to be cherished by another? Who doesn t want to feel cherished by another? Who doesn t want the tender security of love

2 wrapped around them, embracing them until every inch of one s heart can feel that affectionate overflow? To deny the need for love is to deny the way God created us. 1 John 4:8, NKJV, says, He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Love is instilled in each of us as part of His creation. God is love, and in the Book of Genesis we read, Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness... (1:26, NKJV). We were made to feel and do as God does, and that means love, also. God loves you! Throughout the pages of the Bible, the overflow of all He feels for us is pronounced over and over again. Now the commission is on us His followers to show the same love He has shown to us; to think of others before ourselves in the decisions and choices we make in our everyday life. Is someone offended by our actions? Do we make others feel bad about dealing with certain issues in life just because we can handle it? Today s lesson deals with similar issues revolving around the Christian s love for one another (or rather a lack of love that seemed to divide the stronger Christian from the weak). Paul wanted them to establish a love that builds up rather than tears down. Read through the lesson, see how we can apply its truth to our everyday life, enjoy and be blessed. 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. Idol worship was nothing new in Corinth. In fact, the city ran rampart with its devotion to these false deities. Corruptness spewed so from this region causing one to think of its inhabitants in a very negative way. Because idol worship was so prevalent, often the sacrifices of meat for one to obtain came from portions that were offered up to these idols. While some of the converts had no problem eating and using these meats; recognizing them for what they were (nothing), other of the brethren were not so convinced and feeling deeply convicted, chose not to partake.

3 The issue of love comes into play when the ones who felt they could eat the meat took on an attitude of arrogance about their knowledge. This supposed knowledge they had not only gave them the freedom to eat of the meat freely, but for them it was a reason to vex the spirit of or offend the brother with whom they are to walk together with in Christ. Romans 14:14-15 says, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. If they one believe it to be okay to eat, then fine, go ahead and eat it. If the other does not feel comfortable with the whole idea of it, then he should abstain. Here, Paul also explains in Romans that when freedom of meat is used to hurt others, love is missing from the operation. Therefore, he said, Destroy not him with meat, for whom Christ died. Don t kill their faith. Because, charity edifieth. Love, true love and concern for another looks beyond their own wants and needs and seeks to build up the other person. Love operates with a heart of understanding. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says, Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing, (emphasis mine). What is being described here is that if one could possibly be operating in every spiritual gift and strength there is, without love being the leading force, them and their gifts amount to absolutely nothing (read vss.). Knowledge is described by Paul as puffing up its handler. But, if they had real love for one another that love would act as a buffer for their actions, causing them to look at life through another s eye. In Corinthians Paul tells us that, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (emphasis mine). Love doesn t seek to make itself bigger at the expense of another. 1 Corinthians 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing as yet as he ought to know.

4 In the first verse Paul explained how knowledge puffeth up, here, in this verse, he attacks the source of their pride: knowledge, by letting them know that they really know nothing. I love the play on the word nothing. If you look up its definition, the first explanation of the word literally says, no thing, (Dictionary.com). It s the definition and its how it is spelled which equals, in my opinion, zip; zero, nada! You know nothing! The Corinthians constant pursuit of knowledge spawned an over inflated ego, high-minded opinion of themselves. When that source of pride was used to attack a weaker brother, Paul, a very learned man in his own right, put the people in check (as some of us like to say these days ). In Romans 12:3 Paul taught, To every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly then he ought to think. One s personal opinion of themselves doesn t matter, scratch that; doesn t compare to what God knows (I won t use think here in referencing God, for HE KNOWS!). Our next verse really hammers home this point. 1 Corinthians 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. The word but plays off the previous verse letting us know that further correction to their contrary, backwards thinking was necessary. If any man love God. Right here is where the self-righteous feathers gets ruffled: Of course, we love God. However, notice the usage of the word if which leaves the impression of doubt. For one to love God they would seek to operate the way God operates. In regard to the way one handles human relationships, John said, If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 John 4:20).

5 If the brethren were using their exalted knowledge to show egotistical contempt toward each other, then they were showing hatred one to another; opposite of the love of God, and John calls them liars. 1 John 4:8 fully supports this by emphatically declaring, He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love, (emphasis mine). Everything that God is and does stems from His love toward His beloved Creation, ergo those that are called by His name should possess and work in the same source of love for one another. For then, the same is known of him. God never has an identity crisis, but mankind often struggles to realize who they are. When God sees His children acting like their Abba Father, being moved in love toward Him and expressed in love toward people, God knows them. He recognizes them as not only being formed in His image, but He sees them as a people who have deliberately, and on purpose, chosen to love as He does. 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 As concerning therefore the eating of those things offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. As concerning the eating of those things. Getting back to the issue currently being dealt with, it is stated, an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. Once upon a time, the prophet Isaiah plainly and clearly spelled out why other gods of other nations were easily destroyed by enemy combatants: They were no gods, but the works of man s hands, wood and stone... (Isaiah 37:19). That which is formed in the back of someone s workshop has no real power or authority for they don t exist. They are figments of the imaginations of men. Psalms 135:15-17 describes it as this: The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the works of men s hands.

6 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths, (see also Psalm 115:4-8). Why? because they are not real and the Corinthian believers readily admit that and proclaim that there is none other God but one. There is only one God! There is only one Creator of all the heavens and the earth. there is only one that causes the hills to melt like wax in His presence (Ps. 97:5). There is only one that causes the mountains to shake (Nah. 1:5). There is only one who is God! Psalm 86:10 says, For you are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God, (NASB, see also Deut. 6:4). 1 Corinthians 8:7-8 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge. Just because it s true it doesn t make the decision to eat meat easier for the weaker brother. When some look at the idol and the things offered to it, it doesn t sit well in their mind; in their conscience. That little voice is in their head is very sensitive and doesn t let them rest easy with the liberty to partake of this meat. Those that are considered the weaker brethren are considered so because their conscience has them on lock down. It is holding them and not letting them see their freedom in Christ as clearly as the others who feel they are at liberty to eat. Just the thought of partaking of the meat condemns them. But 1 John 3:20 says, For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. They haven t settled or matured that far in their faith to see the idols and meat for what they really are: 1) nothing; 2) food. They need to be renewed in the

7 mind. Not from sin, rather to experience the freedom Christ offered them to not feel defiled by these worthless things. Meat commendeth us not to God. This falls in line with Jesus teaching. In the previous lesson: Jesus Teaching on the law, ( He stated, Not that which goeth into the mouth defile a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man, (Matthew 15:11). More emphasis should be put on the life lived and what comes from that life than on what food goes into the natural body that will one day perish. So the issue of eating this specific meat: if you do, it doesn t matter; if you don t, it still doesn t matter. Neither decision will make one group better than the other. 1 Corinthians 8:9-11 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But what does matter is how one uses their privilege to eat as an opportunity to belittle the faith of the weak. Since those that proclaim this liberty are viewed as strong, shouldn t they use that strength to show love and compassion to him that is weak by withholding anything that would put a stumblingblock in his/her path? In Galatians 5:13 Paul pronounces our freedom but also exhorts one to not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another, (NASB, emphasis mine). The greater strength in one s freedom is when they can squash their own appetites and wants for the love of others. What is one is eating in the idol s temple and is seen by him which is weak? What if those actions provoke the weak one to eat against his better judgment; against his conscience? What if it debilitates his faith causing him to perish, for whom Christ died?

8 The what if s of our daily actions matter to not only us, but to those around us. Jesus teaches of our individual impact on those around us by saying, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven, (Matthew 5:16). Our life and the strength of our faith, coupled with love should be a drawing force. It should cause others to look at us, to look at our actions, and draw men closer to God not away from Him. Any freedom that we do have is because of Christ. We should use what Christ gave us to help others experience the love of the Father. 1 Corinthians 8:12-13 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. Their actions of not taking the weak conscience of their brethren into account are actually referred to as sin. Their actions were hurtful to the spiritual growth and development of the other so much so that the word wound is used. Not only does it wound the individual, it touches Christ. Jesus once said, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me, (Matthew 25:40). The things we do for others and how we treat them is felt by Christ. Every member of God s family is important and to be treated with kindness, love and respect regardless if they are considered weak or strong. Maybe it s time to ask ourselves is Jesus cringing over our behavior and treatment of others. In asking ourselves this is there a measure of realignment of our own faith that needs to take place in order to match up to His love? Paul thought the choice was simple in order to realign oneself to exhibit the love of God. He said, Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh. Paul s thoughts on this is I would rather go without than to cause offense to another one who is just trying to make it to heaven like me; or to cause offense to Christ Himself.

9 Dealing with an almost identical situation in Romans 14, Paul gives us key points to remember: 1. Vs. 1 Receive all the brethren, even him that is weak in the faith. 2. Vs. 3 Do not despise one another for their choices of whether one eats or not. 3. Vs. 4 It is not our job to judge another man s servants. They belong to God, not you. 4. Vs. 5 Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 5. Vss. 7-8 None of us lives or dies to himself. What we do and how we live are carried out for the Lord. In verses 13 and 15 of the same chapter in Romans, Paul continues to teach, That no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother s way... But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Conclusion: Our freedom should never be used as a hindrance for another. To conclude this lesson, I will leave you with a little more that Paul had to say on this subject in Romans 14:16-19: Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. God bless each and every one of you!