Paul
the apostle told the church members in Corinth “all
things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient”,
and“all things are lawful for me, but
all things edify not”.
He added, that “no man seek his own,
but every man another's wealth”,
and in chapter ten and verse twenty-five
of First Corinthians, Paul told the Corinthian church members to
“eat, asking no question for conscience sake”
where we read:
The verse begins,
“Whatsoever
is sold in the shambles, that
eat, ,,,”. Paul
began with the word, “Whatsoever”
which means “each, every, all, the whole, everyone and everything
that” “is sold” or
“offered to barter or sell” “in
the shambles”
which means “in the meat market or place where meat and other
articles of food are sold”, “that
eat” or
“consume and devour”. The church members were to “eat” the
“meats” offered for sale in the “meat markets”.
The
verse continues, “...asking
no question for conscience sake:”
Paul added
the word, “asking” or
“examining, investigating, judging and scrutinizing” “no
question”
which means “not one examining, investigating, judging and
scrutinizing” “for conscience sake”
which refers to “by reason and means of the soul as distinguishing
between what is morally good and bad that is prompting to do the
former and shun the latter while commending one and condemning the
other”. Paul told the church members not to even “ask” whether
the “meats” offered at the markets had been “offered to idols”.
This way their “consciences”
would be clear to eat them.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we recognize the simplicity
of his solution to their eating of meats offered to idols. Meat was
meat, and if they did not know it was offered to an idol, they were
to simply eat it. If they never asked concerning the meat being
offered to idols, they would have no idea whether it was or not, and
they could just eat it. Jesus Christ is the only true God, and all
other things are “idols” and false. He desires for all people to
have a relationship with Him, and what they “eat” or “drink”
has no spiritual significance at all. Therefore sometimes the best
way to enjoy meat or a good meal is not to be concerned as to whom it
was offered, but realize that God created all things to be enjoyed.
Next
time Paul quotes Psalm chapter twenty-four and verse one as he tells
the Corinthian church members, “the
earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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