1 Cor. 8:1-13 (NRSV)
Read 1 Cor. 8:1-13 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 8Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Verse 2Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; Verse 3but anyone who loves God is known by him.
Verse 4Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." Verse 5Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-as in fact there are many gods and many lords- Verse 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Verse 7It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Verse 8"Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. Verse 9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. Verse 10For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? Verse 11So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. Verse 12But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Verse 13Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Devotion
Do you love God and your neighbor? If so, following Paul’s example, you will not flaunt your freedom or your piety lest they offend someone.
Eating food sacrificed to idols is not much of an issue today. But lifestyle, sexual freedom or alcohol, for example, may be. Today, anti-piety is strong in some circles. Narrow-mindedness is a assumed to be a chief sin. Open-mindedness is taken to be a great virtue. Prudery too is probably not something to cultivate. It too can be offensive.
But Paul would give up anything, no matter what it was, rather than trouble someone else’s conscience. That sets a rather high standard. Knowing that God made all that is in creation may seem to put nothing off limits. But my neighbor’s conscience may restrict my freedom.
Prayer
Lord, help me to know and joyfully do the loving thing, since by that I please both you and my neighbor. Amen.