Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians
"There is not in everyone that knowledge..."
Text: 1 Corinthians 8:7
THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
The lack of knowledge can hurt us in more ways than one. Let us never be satisfied with “simple faith”.
“However, there is not in everyone that knowledge;
for some, with consciousness of the idol,
until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol;
and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.
But food does not commend us to God;
for neither if we eat are we the better,
nor if we do not eat are we the worse.”
1 Corinthians 8:7-8
1. The lack of knowledge of God
a) We are the weaker for it.
b) Without sufficient knowledge:
i) The conscience may be weaker.
ii) Consequently, it can become “defiled”.
2. Eating food offered to idols
a) This can adversely affect the believer acutely.
b) He may be troubled in his heart and mind.
i) He may think that the idol is “powerful”.
ii) And that he may be harmed because he has eaten the food offered to the idol(s).
3. Awareness of this lack of knowledge
a) Paul was aware that not everyone in Corinth had sufficient knowledge of God.
b) He was conscious that some had been badly hurt because of this lack of knowledge.
c) They were struggling with their conscience as a result.
4. Assurance given
a) An idol is nothing (1 Corinthians 8:4).
b) There is only one God.
c) There is only one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Mistaken notions dispelled
a) Some may have taught that the eating of food offered to idols would make a person better (stronger).
Paul disagreed! Food does not commend us to God
d) Others may have suggested that if there is abstention from such food, we are better.
This was not the point at all! Eating or abstention does not make us better or worse!