An Outward Focus • 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
By Jessica McMillan
“Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” “When in doubt, don’t.” These are two pieces of advice I have tried to impart to my own daughters and many students I have taught over the years. While this advice can help steer us away from trouble, it is biblical! In our passage this week, we hear from Paul as he teaches believers how to interact when everyone might not agree on what constitutes Christ-like behavior. Christian freedom is not measured by what we are allowed to do, but by how we choose to use that freedom for the good of others.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
In these two verses, Paul emphasizes that while Christians have freedom, not every action is helpful or beneficial. Our behavior should be intentionally focused on the good of others, not our own self-interest. Developmental and behavioral theorist Lawrence Kohlberg described moral development as a progression toward an increasing ability of human reasoning that centers on the good of others. Kohlberg believed that many people never get to the stage of moral development where they can intentionally put the needs of others above their own. Paul teaches that this should be a goal for the believer. We honor God by honoring others.
1 Corinthians 10:25-30
In this section, Paul teaches that believers may eat food sold in the marketplace without guilt or questioning its source. However, if someone specifically identifies the food as having been sacrificed to an idol, Paul tells them to refrain from eating it for the sake of the other person’s conscience. The food itself was not spiritually tainted; the concern was the impact of exercising one’s freedom over another believer. In modern American culture, eating meat sacrificed to idols is not typically an issue, so how can we apply this principle? Choose a topic that might be controversial among believers (There are many!): musical choices, movies, fashion, politics, alcohol, or money. Asking ourselves, “Do I have the right to do this” and “Is this the loving thing to do?” could go a long way in helping us be intentionally careful not to cause others to stumble unnecessarily.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33
The final section of this passage concludes with the principle that believers are to do everything for the glory of God, avoiding causing others to stumble. In Romans 6:18, Paul further explains the paradox of how we become “slaves to righteousness.” A solid biblical understanding of Christian freedom reflects that we are most free when we submit ourselves to God and abide within His principles and moral standards. When we focus on others, we demonstrate humility as we set aside our own desires for the sake of others.
The world often defines freedom as having the right to do whatever we want. Paul indicates, however, that Christian freedom isn’t simply the ability to behave in whatever way we want; it is the freedom to choose not to do something when doing it could harm someone else. In other words, we show that we love God by respecting others enough not to cause them to stumble. May we seek to live in the kind of freedom that honors God.
McMillan is on faculty at NOBTS and is a member of Roseland Park Baptist Church, Picayune.
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