The church at Corinth was mostly made up of Gentiles who had only recently converted to Christ. They lived in a culture dominated by idol worship and social occasions often included food offered to idols or prepared for pagan festivals. Some of the new Christians refused to eat that food. They felt it was defiled by its association with idols and false gods.

Other Christians were happy to eat the food because they knew the idols and false gods were nothing but wood, metal, and stone. They weren’t involved in idol worship just because they ate some food. The idols weren’t real gods and the food offered to them was just food.

“So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that ‘An idol is nothing at all in the world’ and that ‘There is no God but one.’” 1 Corinthians 8:4

There were plenty of idols and pagan gods in Corinth but for Christians there was only one God, the heavenly Father; and one Lord, Jesus Christ. Their God was the Creator and sustainer of all of life.

Don’t Cause Your Brother to Stumble

The believers who knew that idols were nothing, knew that God didn’t care one way or the other if they ate food offered to idols – as long as it didn’t draw them into idol worship.

“Food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.” 1 Corinthian 8:8

But other Christ followers had a hard time separating the sacrificial food from the idea of worshiping an idol – something they had forsaken when they came to Christ.

“Some people are so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.” 1 Corinthians 8:7

Some people’s concern for what was right made them sensitive to the behavior of others and they got offended when others didn’t agree with them. Eugene Peterson gives a helpful translation of what Paul said about this.

“Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn’t you at least be willing to give up going to dinner for him—because, as you say, it doesn’t really make any difference? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend terribly, risking his eternal ruin! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A free meal here and there isn’t worth it at the cost of even one of these ‘weak ones.’ So, never go to these idol-tainted meals if there’s any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters.” 1 Corinthians 8:11-13 The Message

Warning Against Idolatry

Despite his statement that idols were nothing, Paul wanted the Corinthians to take idolatry very seriously. Idolatry was such an offense against God that he severely punished Israel when they fell into it.

God took the lives of twenty-three thousand Israelites in one day when Moabite women seduced them into Baal worship (Numbers 25). He let an entire generation of Israelites  die in the desert when they set their hearts on evil (Numbers 32:13). He sent poisonous snakes when they rebelled against his will for them (Numbers 21), and a destroying angel came with a plague when David foolishly took a census of his fighting men (1 Chronicles 21).

“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written: the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 1 Corinthians 10:6-7

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:14

The Problem with Idols

Idols were empty, inanimate objects, but demons sometimes used those inanimate objects to get control of people.

“Do I mean then that food sacrifice to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:19-21

Satan and his demons looked for ways to get the attention of people and direct their lives. Whatever people worshiped that is not the one true God drew them away from God and into spiritual darkness. Israel’s idolatry in the Old Testament always spiraled downward into immorality and death; that’s the danger of worshiping anything less than God.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Our enemy wants to consume us, and we don’t always hear his approach because he mostly works through subtle temptations. We follow one suggestion to sin and Satan is ready with the next one, leading us so deeply into sin that we can’t find our way back. It’s better not to give in to the first temptation, but if we do we need to find an exit door and get away before it’s too late.

The Way of Escape

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

The power of a temptation grows unless we escape from it, so the Lord provides a way out. Even when we feel overwhelmed by temptation, the Lord helps us when we call on him.

“This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him. Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him.” Psalm 34:6 New Living Translation

Don’t Abuse Your Freedom

God doesn’t hold forgiven people’s sins against them, but that doesn’t mean they are free to do whatever they choose. The Law of Love tells believers how to conduct themselves.

“‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ – but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

There is no such thing as entirely private behavior; people’s choices always affect lives around them. God wants his people to focus on doing whatever is most beneficial and constructive for the community as a whole.

Imagine a world where everyone did that. So many problems would be solved!

Giving Up Our Rights

Paul had a lot of rights because of his status as a Pharisee and a Roman citizen. He also had a right to financial support from the churches he served so faithfully, and he had a right to expect hospitality and care from those he served, but he didn’t ask for that. He didn’t want anything to distract people from hearing the gospel.

“If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9:11-12

When Paul came to a new town he usually got a job to support himself while he preached the gospel and helped new believers. He didn’t ask for support from those he served.

“What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so as not to make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 8:18

Paul went further than giving up his financial rights, too. He set aside his identity and adapted himself to other people so that he could reach as many hearts as possible.

“Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible . . . I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

The Biggest Temptation

The greatest temptation people face is selfishness. We make an idol of our “rights” and don’t want anyone to interfere with our personal interests. When others express their rights, in our selfishness we think they are trying to take our rights from us. When we are all pursuing our own personal rights we become territorial and combative.

Paul gave up his need to exercise his personal rights. He deliberately entered into the lives of other people to understand and bless them. They hardly knew who he actually was because he so completely adapted to them.

When Paul was with people who revered the Law of Moses, he observed the Law. When he was among pagans who didn’t know the Law, he let go of Jewish laws and restrictions. When he met people who were weak and troubled, he softened his approach so he could get near them – always with the gospel ready to answer their needs.

Paul didn’t let selfish needs and “rights” dictate how he lived. He disciplined himself to do whatever was necessary to win souls.

“Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27

Paul lived a disciplined, other-person-centered life. The prize he looked forward to was his Master’s approval – and the multitude of souls who will be in heaven because the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to them.  His advice to us today is:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize!” 1 Corinthians 9:24