This issue looks at Part Two of Food Sacrificed to Idols.
SINCE YOU ASKED
The previous edition dealt with meat and poultry companies that were slaughtering animals according to Islamic standards and dedicating the sacrifice to Allah. We looked at some selected verses from 1 Corinthians dealing with food sacrificed to idols. If you missed it click here. It’s the foundation for today’s post. It showed that while mature believers in Christ have the freedom the eat anything sold in the meat market, there are times when our freedom should be set aside for a greater purpose. We ended with verse 30 from Chapter 10. Today, we will focus on the final three verses in this section:
 
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, so that they may be saved (10:31-33).
 
Here we have Paul’s conclusion to the discussion-the main point of the entire issue.

AS I SEE IT
Paul’s bottom line is that our choice to eat or not should not be based on us and our freedom. As with every other issue we face, we are to be more concerned about the effect our decisions have on others and whether it brings glory to God. Paul’s passion was saving as many souls as possible by identifying with those around him. Everything he did and every decision he made was based on whether it strengthened the faith of believers or opened the door to true faith for non-believers. His rights were a non-issue. His personal freedom in Christ was a non-issue. While all things were permissible, he considered whether his decision would be profitable for those around him-thus glorifying God and furthering His kingdom.
 
Here we have another reminder of what we call the golden rule-do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This isn’t just good advice that has been passed down for centuries. It’s at the heart of Christ’s teachings:
 
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).
 
We can condense everything pertaining to the Law and everything all the prophets said in this simple little command. The coming judgment the prophets warned of could have been avoided had the people and Israel’s leaders followed this simple rule. All the complicated mandates of the law could have been rendered irrelevant had the people and Israel’s leaders followed this simple rule.
 
What a lesson for us! How much simpler and joy-filled our lives would be if we simply made the golden rule the guide for our lives.

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ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The best known story in the whole Bible reveals that cows are probably the friendliest animals on earth. The Christmas story as portrayed in Away in a Manger says the cattle were lowing. Imagine a bunch of cows milling around saying “‘lo” to each other. That’s one friendly animal.