Daily Manna 2 January
KEY VERSE: “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24).
TEXT: 1 Corinthians 10:14-33 (KJV)
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
28 But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
When the imperial powers were carving out Africa into colonies during the Scramble for Africa at the Berlin Conference in the late 18th Century, it hardly mattered to the Europeans to take into consideration the liberty of the people whose lands they were fighting for. Their interests and how to entrench them were uppermost to them, regardless of who was hurt.
Selfishness is a vice that is condemned by the word of God. As the Holy Spirit inspired Apostle Paul to write to the Corinthian brethren on grave spiritual matters, he observed disturbing traits that had to do with the Lord’s Supper, idolatry, division, etc. His definitive instruction, based on the foundational teaching that we are all one, is that we should strive to “please all men in all things, not seeking [our] own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved”.
If believers abide by this exhortation, knowledgeable and experienced Christians would not mislead others into sin and error. Our freedom is a weapon for the liberation of others, not to drag them into spiritual slavery characterised by fellowship with idolaters, division in the church and selfishness.
The challenge from today’s teaching to the Christians of our age is that we should remain the salt and light of the world. We should utilise these potent and indispensable weapons to free the world from the choking stranglehold of erroneous doctrines, greed and selfishness. True liberty is exercised within the boundaries of Scripture to impact others positively for God’s glory.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Our liberty in Christ empowers us to deliver the world.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 4-5
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Limits of Our Liberty – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 2 January 2022
