Loving People

1 Corinthians 8 - Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.


4 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.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.


7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still 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. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.


9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Wow, this message was amazing! It really challenged me to rethink and actually take to heart the full intent of love and care for others expressed in the passage above. Where have I allowed my knowledge to puff up and be a detriment to my brothers and sisters rather than an encouragement? Where has my lack of love and genuine concern for others gotten a hold of me? I remember saying things like what Paul quotes above and reasoning it out, yet only with myself in mind. I have such a need for God to help me discover where I fail to consider my actions in relation to those around me. Paul speaks of food sacrificed to idols here, but he could easily have been talking about our freedom to drink or something else as well. I remember a time when I did not understand the voluntary abstinence from alcohol that some people had chosen. I would mentally think of the same kinds of arguments that these knowledgeable Corinthians gave. But there is something so much greater they were missing - it was God's love. It's a revealing question to ask yourself whether you could in all honesty say, like Paul, that "if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall." I want God to grow my heart more, to beat out of me this perpetual selfishness and replace it with a desire to truly love the people He puts in my life. Find out how I can best serve them, encourage them, edify them and cherish them like the Father does. Like Francis mentioned, our faith is more than having the right knowledge or theology. It's living it out and becoming more  like the Christ whom we follow and love. Studying this passage and really believing it means that our lives actually come to reflect it. I feel humbled by these words of Scripture because I see how vastly different my life and own heart are compared to it. Something that struck me were the words, "for whom Christ died," referring to a fellow brother or sister. If I really had that perspective in mind when I made decisions, I believe my choices and behaviors would be more honorable to the Lord. But I find that I don't often think that way. Sure, theologically or mentally I understand that truth, but to apply it and integrate it to my day-to-day living would greatly transform it. I would consider how my actions affect the well-being of fellow believers, whether it would draw them closer to God or lead them astray.

His mention of Romans 9 also hit me hard. ¹ I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people. I feel convicted of the usual state of my heart. I am not filled with an overwhelming sense of sorrow or unending anguish for nonbelievers. Perhaps the closest to that has been my softening heart and compassion for my sister who seems so ready to have Jesus forgive her sins and put her faith in Him. But this burning and deep fear for others' eternal condition is not the long-standing character of my heart. I care for a while, but then it slowly dwindles or fades. Then I care again. It fades. I need God's ferocious concern and passion for people to know Him. Like Francis recounting the story of his grandma on her deathbed. That was truly incredible. I want to have that fire and immediacy of faith that passionately pleads with God to intervene and save. I know I am lacking in this when I pray for my family. I need God's grace so much. I need His love. 1 Corinthians 13  ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. - 1 John 4

Francis' reference to this passage was also illuminating. People will actually get a glimpse of God and His amazing love when His people are loving each other as they should. The invisible can indeed be made visible among us. What a gift and blessing to others when we surrender to Jesus in this way!

A final impression that remains with me is his emphasis on verse 3 in the very first passage, But whoever loves God is known by God. We can continue to accumulate knowledge about God, facts and teachings about God, but at the end of the day that won't matter. And a part of that scares me because I know how easy it is for me to retreat to the realm of philosophical, theological, conceptual. But Jesus is alive, the Spirit is at work and the Father is ever-present, listening to my prayers and conversations with Him. There is no amount of knowledge I can obtain that will bring me closer to God or will build and nurture the intimacy that my soul craves and my spirit thirsts for. The mind is so very limited in this regard. It is why God wants our HEARTS. It is here that love can be ignited and maintained. The connection to Galatians 4 is also insightful,  ⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God— It is not knowing God, but God knowing us that seems to make all the difference. The way Francis talked about his relationship with God and his interactions with people was quite inspiring. I could tell how much he believes and trusts in the Lord. He is walking out his faith in humility and tremendous love. He's honest about his own struggles and hopeful about his continued perseverance in being conformed to the likeness of Christ. It motivates me to get honest with God, to lay myself bare before Him so that I can truly be transformed into the woman He has predestined me to be. This message is such a great reminder of the power that authentic love has in the lives of people. Man, do I have so much more to grow in. But praise be to God, who is so faithful and gracious, and who delights in speaking to His children as they come to Him broken and humble, and with hearts overflowing with love.