Monday Devotional: January 22, 2024

Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (NRSVUE)

¹ Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ² Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge, ³ but anyone who loves God is known by him. ⁴ Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and that “there is no God but one.” ⁵ Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. ⁷ It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸ “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat and no better off if we do. ⁹ But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰ For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? ¹¹ So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister for whom Christ died is destroyed. ¹² But when you thus sin against brothers and sisters and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

When modern people talk about idols, we often talk about where we put our energies or how we get distracted from God. Sometimes we talk about getting caught up in work. Idols are those things we put our trust in. They help us feel in control is a constantly changing world.

The believers in Corinth were a diverse group. Some continued to sacrifice to pagan gods for good fortune, well-being, or success. Others in the community believed that eating the food from sacrifices to other gods made them unclean. Paul argues that because there is no other God, these foods cannot defile them.

It helps to remember that our idols are not gods. We can sacrifice for them, but ultimately they will not be our strength in times of change and suffering. If we trust in Jesus, if we make Jesus the center of our world, then everything else will fall into place. It doesn’t mean that we won’t suffer or that things won’t change. But Jesus is our rock.

The other aspect that Paul mentions is the importance of our impact on those around us. The value always resides in the community rather than individual freedom, and we are to respect and value all in the community, despite our individual views or theological strengths. We are not to become stumbling blocks to the weak. So we take care as we consider potential idols in our lives so that we don’t lead others astray.

Prayer

O God, may we experience the joy of trusting in you. Guide us to be good neighbors as we value others’ differing views and opinions. Amen.

By Nancy Neal, The Upper Room Disciplines 2015, page 42