Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians
"For conscience' sake..."
Text: 1 Corinthians 10:27
SOCIAL EVENTS
Social events are a part of life. Invitations are given out to people, and believers are free to decide if they wish to attend a social function.
“If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner,
and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you,
asking no question for conscience’ sake.
But if anyone says to you, ‘This was offered to idols,’
do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you,
and for conscience’ sake;
for ‘the earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness’.
‘Conscience,’ I say, not your own, but that of the other.
For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?
But if I partake with thanks,
why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?”
1 Corinthians 10:27-30
1. An invitation to dinner
a) This may be freely accepted.
b) The believer is at liberty to accept or to decline an invitation.
2. “For conscience’s sake”
a) Again, this word of advice was given.
b) Asking no questions is good advice for the sake of the conscience.
3. “The earth is the LORD’s, and its fullness”
a) This is a text taken from Psalm 24:1.
b) This is an important truth that all believers may apply with deep appreciation.
4. The conscience of another person
a) A believer with an over-sensitive conscience may be troubled easily.
b) If this more-sensitive believer informs you that the meat was originally offered to idols; the appropriate response is not to partake of the meat!
5. Some considerations
a) Paul applies himself to the scenario described.
i) His “liberty” may be judged by the believer with a sensitive conscience.
ii) Paul maintained that he could eat the food with a sense of “liberty”.
iii) But this may well stumble the weaker believer; thus he would have chosen abstinence.
b) He may be “evil spoken of”
He may partake for he had already given thanks to the Lord for the food (1 Timothy 4:4-5).
However, if the act of eating may cause someone to stumble, Paul would refrain!