Lawful and Profitable (1 Corinthians 10.23-33)

Sermon by: Robert Austell; March 4, 2018 - 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

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::: Scripture and Music ::
Come Praise and Glorify (Sovereign Grace)
Holy is the Lord (Tomlin/Giglio)
In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified (song of confession)
CHOIR: Your Love Will Be My Song (Choplin)
To God Be the Glory

:: Sermon Manuscript (pdf) ::
This "manuscript" represents an early draft of the sermon. Some weeks the spoken version varies more than others from the early manuscript. Nevertheless, if you'd prefer to read than to listen, this is provided  for that purpose.

We continue today in a series on spiritual freedom, the result of the truth of the human condition and the grace of God in response to it. So often we focus exclusively on truth or on grace, moving into extremes that move beyond biblical teaching. These excesses can be described as legalism (over-focus on the rules) or license (over-focus on getting away with something). But the biblical reality and God’s intent is to hold truth and grace in balance, in order to experience freedom in Christ. Today we continue in 1 Corinthians, where Paul has used a specific example of eating meat sacrificed to false gods (idols) to explore some of these matters. I want to divide the text up into three sections to follow Paul’s line of thought and we will consider how it all applies to us today.

Proposition: Lawful and Profitable (vv.23-24)

Paul begins with his main proposition in verse 23. Now remember that he’s been building up to this for several chapters. We first talked about the specific example of eating meat sacrificed to idols two weeks ago in chapter 8. Now we are in chapter 10 and he’s still talking about that, but moving into the broader application he sees in this particular situation. He writes:

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.
All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

Now he’s writing in good Jewish form, repeating himself but with two slightly different thoughts to present a fuller picture. By ‘lawful’ he doesn’t mean keeping the speed limit lawful, but is referring to God’s Law… that is, what is allowed by God’s Law or God’s Word. But he is writing as a follower of Christ, for whom Christ has fulfilled or explained significant portions of God’s Law. Said another way, Paul’s premise is that though there are some things we are allowed to do, there are other considerations than simply “being allowed.” And he gives two qualifiers here: being profitable and edifying. While ‘profitable’ conjures to mind profits and money, the sense here is more “what is good for you.” And he has already used the word ‘edify’ in the previous chapters, to focus on the well-being of others. So it carries the sense of “what is good for others.” So Paul is saying that there is great freedom in Christ, but there are at least two guiding principles for how we use that freedom: what is good for us and what is good for others. And since our opinion of what is good for ourselves might be all over the map, Paul would clarify ‘good’ as God’s good or God’s best for us in this way: we are free so that we might pursue God’s best for us and for others.

And on top of that, in the next verse, Paul adds this reminder, which he has already lifted up in the two previous chapters: “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.” (v.24) Again, the sense of that first part is “let no one seek FIRST or ONLY his own good, but that of his neighbor.” I am reminded of Jeremiah 29 and God’s message to the Exiles to seek the shalom – the blessing and peace – of their captors and in doing so they would find God’s blessing and peace for themselves. Jesus and now Paul very much lifted up that same concept that when we love God first, then our neighbor, then that’s the best way to experience God’s love and blessing in our own life. That is what is ultimately “profitable”!

Specific Application and Examples (vv.25-30)

So in verses 25-30 Paul returns to the specific situation and application regarding the meat sold in the market in Corinth. And now he walks this situation through the filter of his proposition in the preceding verses.

Is it lawful? – Yes, he says: “Eat anything sold in the meat market… for the earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains.” God allows it! God had given Peter a vision along these lines for the new Christian movement; it was not necessary to keep the kosher food laws because all that they signified and pointed to had been fulfilled in Christ. He was now the Bread of Life, our spiritual food and drink, and we are free to enjoy food as a good gift of God.

What if an unbeliever invites you and sets food before you? Paul says that you are free and the unbeliever’s conscience is clear. Go ahead! Refusing might even cause offense or provide a poor witness. (For some reason this makes me think of the notorious under-tipping of Christians in restaurants. If that’s news to you, ask any server about it and ask them to be honest.)

What if someone raises the question about the meat being associated with idol worship? That’s where Paul’s other questions provide guidance. Is it good for you or them to go ahead? Well, perhaps, if you have a chance to sit down and teach and explain. But in the moment, better to just not partake so as not to cause offense or confusion to the conscience of the other person. It would seem that Paul has been in both situations in Corinth and has received some questions or critique. So, in part, he is also writing to clarify his motives and method. And I’m thankful for the peek inside his thought process!

Broad Application (vv.31-33)

In verses 31-33, Paul returns to a broader guiding principle that can be used for any number of situations. He leads from the specific – “whether you eat or drink” – and expands to everything – “or whatever you do” – do all to the glory of God. This is where we get the threefold priority: God, others, self. Instead of focusing on “mmm, do I want this delicious steak” or “how do I vote?” or “what should we do about school violence?” or any number of other specific applications of our day, a follower of God first asks: What will bring glory to God?

Then Paul focuses on others – the watching world that God loves – and cautions against creating obstacles or scandals to their faith or your witness to God. He warns “give no offense.” Mind you that giving glory to God is a certain kind of offense to those who reject God. But that is not what is in view here. Paul wrote about that in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Here he is talking about our words and actions tripping up someone or blinding them from seeing or hearing about God. And you see his end goal at the end of verse 33: it is “so that they may be saved.” So after asking what will bring glory to God? we must ask: What is God’s best for those around me, believer and unbeliever alike?

And finally, if Jeremiah and Jesus and Paul are right, then when we seek first the Kingdom of God and pray and seek for the blessing and peace of the friends, strangers, and even enemies that Jesus classifies as ‘neighbor’… then we will be headed towards God’s best for us. That is what is lawful and profitable. May God bless our hearing of His Word. Amen.