Reading through the Bible-Love trumps knowledge

1 Corinthians 8:1-3, "Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him."

Now concerning things offered to idols: Having dealt with their questions about marriage and singleness, Paul now addresses (in 1 Corinthians chapters 8-10) the next of their questions regarding eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols.

The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided into three portions. One portion was burnt in honor of the god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the third portion was given to the priest. If the priest didn't want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market.

The meat served and sold at the temple was generally cheaper. Then, as well as now, people loved a bargain (including Christians).

The issue raised many questions for the Corinthian Christians: Can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market? What if we are served meat purchased at the temple meat market when we are guests in someone's home? Can a Christian eat at the restaurant at the pagan temple?

We know that we all have knowledge: Instead of talking about food, Paul first talks about the principles of knowledge and love. Christian behavior is founded on love, not knowledge; and the goal of the Christian life is not knowledge, but love.

Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies: Both knowledge and love have an effect on our lives in that each of them make something grow. The difference between puffs up and edifies is striking; it is the difference between a bubble and a building. Some Christians grow, others just swell!

If anyone thinks that he knows anything: If we think we know it all, we really don't know anything - he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. Yet, there is a knowledge that is important: the knowledge God has of those who love Him (if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him).

Paul adds a very unusual comment to 8:3: “but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.”Again, the grammar makes it clear that there are those in Corinth who love God.²² Paul prioritizes love over knowledge. Accumulating all the facts about God that one can will not result in the most realistic knowledge of Him. One must also love God.²³ If a person loves God, then God knows him in an intimate way and reveals Himself to him (2:10). Consequently, it is really more important that God knows us than that we know Him.²⁴ When He knows us intimately, He will enable us to know Him intimately.²⁵ Logically, not only will God enable those who love Him to know Him better, but He will also enable those who love Him to understand other subjects as well. Paul said this to establish the priority of love over knowledge in determining our behavior in various situations.²⁶ You are your brother’s keeper.

Dear God, I am so grateful for Your love and Truth in my life through Jesus Christ!!

Reading through the Bible-Each one is of value

1 Corinthians 7:39-40, "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God."

Here is the beginning of something that became, for Paul, a very important idea. A widow may be weak and poor, but she can become strong in her relationship with God. She may be too weak to do most jobs, but there was important work for her to do in the church.

However, Paul began with instructions for married women. A married woman must remain loyal to her husband while he is alive. She should not leave him to marry another man. However, if he dies before her, she is free to marry again.

A Christian woman should marry a Christian man. The widow should choose someone who is ‘in the Lord’. In other words, her new husband should be a Christian as she is. They should both have the same kind of relationship with God. As they serve God together, they will both become stronger in their relationship with him.

Those instructions for married women are commands that God has given in the Bible. But in 1 Corinthians 7:40, Paul adds his own opinion about a widow. He believes that it would be better for her not to marry again. He says that she would be ‘happier’ without a husband. Really, he is referring back to his words in 1 Corinthians 7:32-34. He means that the widow can serve God better without a husband. If she has a husband, she must give her time and energy to him. But without a husband, she can give all her time and energy to God’s work.

We can see how this idea developed in 1 Timothy 5:3-16. The churches provided for older widows, if they had no families to look after them. And those widows gave all their time for prayer, good works, and to teach younger women.

Dear God, Thank you for Your love and value for all people despite their relationship status.  I praise Your Holy name!!

Readng through the Bible-Heart for God

1 Corinthians 7:36-38, "If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed,11 if his 12 passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better."

In 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul answers the question: ‘Is it good for Christians to marry?’

His reply gives several reasons why it may be better for a Christian to remain unmarried. An unmarried Christian often has better opportunities to serve God (7:32-34). When people have difficult troubles in their lives, it may be unwise to marry (7:26). Certainly, nobody should marry without proper thought about the serious responsibilities that marriage brings (7:4).

Here in 1 Corinthians 7:36, Paul explains a situation where it is right and proper to marry. This man genuinely loves a young woman and he wishes to behave in an honourable manner towards her. He is not marrying for selfish reasons. She is the right age to marry; and he wants to do the right thing.

Paul contrasts that man with another man in 1 Corinthians 7:37. Both men are behaving in a mature manner; both men have control over their own emotions. The first man chose to marry because of his love for a woman. The second man chose not to marry so that both he and the woman could serve God better (7:32-34).

Both men made decisions that were right and good. God approves of them both. However, the person who chooses to give all his time and energy to God makes the best decision.

These examples refer to the marriage customs that people used to follow in Corinth. Men were not free to choose whom they would marry. Instead, families arranged for a boy to become engaged to a girl when they were both very young. When he grew older, the boy could choose when to marry. Even where those customs are unfamiliar, we can still learn from Paul’s advice.

Dear God, I pray that my love for You and trust in You guide my marriage and not the other way around.

Reading through the Bible-One track mind

1 Corinthians 7:25-35, "Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present distress  it is good for a person to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.  This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord."

Considering the distress of those times, the unmarried state was best. Notwithstanding, the apostle does not condemn marriage. How opposite are those to the apostle Paul who forbid many to marry, and entangle them with vows to remain single, whether they ought to do so or not! He exhorts all Christians to holy indifference toward the world. As to relations; they must not set their hearts on the comforts of the state. As to afflictions; they must not indulge the sorrow of the world: even in sorrow the heart may be joyful.

As to worldly enjoyments; here is not their rest. As to worldly employment; those that prosper in trade, and increase in wealth, should hold their possessions as though they held them not. As to all worldly concerns; they must keep the world out of their hearts, that they may not abuse it when they have it in their hands. All worldly things are show; nothing solid. All will be quickly gone.

Wise concern about worldly interests is a duty; but to be full of care, to have anxious and perplexing care, is a sin. By this maxim the apostle solves the case whether it were advisable to marry. That condition of life is best for every man, which is best for his soul, and keeps him most clear of the cares and snares of the world. Let us reflect on the advantages and snares of our own condition in life; that we may improve the one, and escape as far as possible all injury from the other. And whatever cares press upon the mind, let time still be kept for the things of the Lord.

Dear God, I pray that my state of marriage never ensnares me in the cares of this world and keeps me from You!

Reading through the Bible-Our condition in Christ

1 Corinthians 7:18-25, "Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.  Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.  Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy."

The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.

Dear God, I am so grateful that my comfort and happiness is now what I am to You through my relationship with Christ...saved and perfected!  Praise to You!!

Reading through the Bible-Bloom where you are planted

1 Corinthians 7:17, "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches."

As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk: No matter what your station (married, single, divorced, widowed, remarried, whatever), God can work in your life. Instead of thinking that you can or will walk for the Lord when your station changes, walk for the Lord in the place you are at right now.

So let him walk is also a warning to beware the danger of thinking other people have it better than you, because of their different station in life. Married, single, divorced, remarried, don't matter nearly as much as an on-fire walk with Jesus right now.

Dear God, I am so grateful for the "on-fire" relationship You've given me with Jesus!!  He is the center all my other relationships and I am so grateful!

Reading through the Bible-Joy to the World!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Dear God, thank you for showing me the depth of my sin so that I could be fully forgiven, fully appreciate Christmas, and be free to fully love without fear forever!  Praise to You!!