BSFL Life Truths Sunday School commentary for the week of March 21, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:04AM Selfish? 1 Corinthians 8,10
When believers insist on their own rights with no thought of how their actions will bring glory to God, the body of Christ suffers. Love for fellow believers and the pursuit of God's glory trump every right we have as Christ-followers. Therefore, we must evaluate all our perceived "rights" in terms of how they impact our fellow believers, and how they bring glory to God and advance His Kingdom purposes.
The issue in view at the church at Corinth was eating meat that had been offered to idols. For those with a history of idol worship before coming to follow Christ, they had vivid memories of pagan sacrifices and the demonic spirits often associated with such sacrifices. Naturally, they wanted to distance themselves as much as possible from all former pagan practices. For them to eat meat purchased in the marketplace that had been sacrificed to idols was a gross stain on their faith in Christ. Other believers viewed this issue from a logical standpoint and knew that dead idols can have no effect on meat. The meat was just meat and was perfectly acceptable to eat.
The problem was not as much with the meat as it was with attitudes. Those who knew they could eat the meat without sin were puffed up with their knowledge, and prideful, viewing the other believers as immature and weak. They lorded their superior knowledge over the others. The believers who could not in good conscience eat the meat saw the others as sinful and loose in their standards. Who is right? Who needs to give ground?
While we have few arguments over meat these days, there are plenty of other issues that believers get hung up on. You can probably name a few right now. How would you evaluate your choices as they relate to their impact on the spiritual growth of others? Many believers do not consider their actions or how they affect others. They insist on having their way with no consideration for others at all. The video below is a comical yet accurate portrayal of their actions.
Do you live your life in a way that benefits others and brings glory to God? Or do you stubbornly insist on having things your own way and pleasing yourself? Your answer indicates who is more important - Christ or yourself. If Christ is more important, we will only act in a way that brings others to Him and pleases Him. Our own desires and rights do not matter in light of our allegiance to Him. After all, think of all the rights Jesus gave up to be the sacrifice for our sin?
Christians at different levels of spiritual maturity will always see things from varying perspectives. We cannot focus our energy on arguing over who is right. For the sake of unity and Kingdom advancement we must instead focus on giving way in love and submission. Let the following Scriptures speak for themselves. May they be our guide in Christian liberty and responsibility.
"Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother to fall." 1 Corinthians 8:12-13 (HCSB)
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory. Give no offense to the Jews or the Greeks or the church of God, just as I also try to please all people in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 (HCSB)
"For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those who are outside the law, like one outside the law—not being outside God’s law, but under the law of Christ—to win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, that I may become a partner in its benefits." 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (HCSB)
Christ, God, glory, liberty, love, meat, responsibility, selfishness in Sunday School Commentary 
BSFL Sunday School commentary for the week of April 18, 2010
The Right Motivation 2 Corinthians 5
Which of the images above best describe your motivation for pleasing God?
In his book "The Shape of Faith to Come" (Broadman, Nashville, 2008), Brad Waggoner reveals that only 37% of adults who attend a Protestant church at least once a month claim to live their lives to please God. What do the other 63% live for? What do you live for?
As believers we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross satisfied God's righteous judgment upon our sin. Jesus took our place. We no longer need to fear death or being separated from God. We owe Jesus everything! Therefore, we are to make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. God's redemption and blessing are without cost; but He will hold us accountable for how we used our redeemed lives for His purposes. This judgment Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:10 is for believers only. Our sin has been forever judged at the cross. This judgment is about our stewardship. We will receive reward or be embarrassed before the One who died for us.
The Apostle Paul was convinced that he (and we) would stand before God in judgment, but he was also compelled by the love of God. That God would sacrifice His only Son to die for the sin of others completely astounded Paul. Such a love should be received; and such a love must be proclaimed! The term "compels us" in 2 Corinthians 5:14 is the word used to refer to people suffering with diseases in Matthew 4:24 and Luke 4:38. Paul was literally sick with Christ's love! That is why he made the comment about "being out of our mind". Evidently some accused Paul of being crazy, due to his actions in serving Christ. Indeed, even when later standing before King Agrippa for judgment, Paul tried to convert him and was told, "You are beside yourself! Much learning has made you mad!" (Acts 26:24-29). Paul's love for Christ, and being overwhelmed with Christ's love for him, drove Paul to lose himself in the service of Christ. Do you love Jesus enough to serve Him, no matter what or where?
God's purpose for us all is that we be reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus, and that we in turn spread the Gospel (Good News) of this reconciliation to everyone. Paul used the word ambassador; we are ambassadors for Christ. We are Christ's representatives here on earth. The only way people will hear of Christ's great love and sacrifice is if we share it with them. God is indeed appealing to the world of humanity through us. We plead with people on God's behalf. Ours is a Gospel of rescue! We need to be more desperate in our efforts to share Christ with the world around us.
Fear, guilt, and manipulation will only motivate for a short period of time. After a while we will no longer fear, stop feeling guilty and grow tired of being manipulated. Such impure motivations only lead to frustration, doubt, anger, and desertion from the cause. We will be judged by God for our service to Him; but we will also be held accountable for our motivations. Do we serve Christ out of love for Him, concern for the lost, and a desire to please Him in all things? Or do we serve for lesser reasons?