1 Corinthians 10:31,33 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God….just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved
God is holy, righteous, and just, and He expects us to live in holiness and righteousness, especially since Holy Spirit-empowered lives are available to us now. We are not concerned about being accepted by the world and its standards, but only about living a life that glorifies God. We want to grow in Christlikeness, and we love God and our neighbours, especially those from the household of believers, because we are the body of Christ.
Therefore, we must ask what lawful things are not beneficial for our Christian growth and character development, and whether our actions will cause a brother or sister to stumble. This is why the Apostle Paul says that whatever we do, we should do it to glorify God! These should be the guiding principles before we embark on anything that is lawful.
1 Corinthians 10:25,30 (AMP) [Regarding meat offered to idols:] Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking any questions for the sake of your conscience….If I take my share [of food] with thankfulness, why am I accused because of something for which I give thanks?
The Apostle Paul advocates that everything can be eaten when we thank God for it. Everything that we see in creation is created by God for us. Because Jesus Christ has triumphed over all principalities and power and disarmed them, nothing can triumph over us—demonic forces or idols. Eating food offered to idols, including meat sold at a lower price because it had been offered to idols, cannot harm a Christian. Demons can’t possess our bodies through the act because the Holy Spirit living in us protects us.
However, while all things are lawful, not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23). There are Christians with different levels of understanding and non-Christians who have heard that Christians shouldn’t eat food offered to idols. Usually, if parents know that their children are Christians, they will respect their beliefs when offering food to idols during ancestral worship. Nonetheless, some will demand that they pray to the idols and carry out ancestral worship rites. Knowing what to do on such occasions requires wisdom. If you are informed that the food on the table has been offered to idols, we shouldn’t partake of it because Scripture says, “So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” What we want to avoid is stumbling the weaker believers and the nonbelievers on such occasions. No one should seek only their own good but that of the other person (1 Corinthians 10:24). Therefore, instead of just being concerned with the “can” and “cannot”, let’s go for the higher standard set by Jesus Christ!
Sermon Series： Not all things are beneficial
追求更高的标准
哥林多前书 10:31,33 所以，你们或吃或喝，无论作什么，都要为荣耀神而行…就好像我凡事都叫众人喜欢，不求自己的益处，只求众人的益处，叫他们得救。
上帝是圣洁、公义和公正的，祂期望我们活在圣洁和公义中，尤其是如今的我们可以选择圣灵赋能的生命。我们不在乎自己是否被世界及其标准所接受，只想活出荣耀神的生命。我们想照着基督的样式成长，我们爱神爱邻舍，尤其爱那些来自信徒家庭的人，因为我们是基督的肢体。
因此，我们必须问，哪些事情虽然合法但却对我们的基督徒成长和品格发展没有益处，我们的行为是否会绊倒弟兄姐妹。这就是为什么使徒保罗说，无论我们做什么，都应该为荣耀神而做！在我们开始任何合法的事情之前，这些应该是指导原则。\
哥林多前书 10:25,30（关于献给偶像的肉）凡市上所卖的，你们只管吃，不要为良心的缘故问什么话…我若谢恩而吃，为什么因我谢恩的物被人毁谤呢？
使徒保罗主张，当我们为食物谢恩时，一切都可以吃。我们看到的所有受造物都是上帝为我们创造的。因为耶稣基督已经战胜了所有执政的和掌权的，并解除了他们的武装，所以没有什么——魔鬼权势或偶像—能胜过我们。吃献给偶像的食物–包括因为曾作为贡物献祭给偶像而以较低价格出售的肉–不会伤害基督徒。鬼魔无法通过这种行为占有我们的身体，因为住在我们里面的圣灵保护我们。
然而，虽然凡事都可行，但不都有益处（哥林多前书 10:23）。有些基督徒对此有不同程度的理解，而有些非基督徒则曾经听说过基督徒不应该吃献给偶像的食物。通常，如果父母知道他们的孩子是基督徒，他们会在祭祖上贡时尊重孩子的信仰。然而，有些父母却会要求孩子祭拜偶像并进行祭祖仪式。这种场合下知道该怎么做是需要智慧的。 如果你被告知桌上的食物是祭拜过偶像的，我们就不应该吃，因为圣经说：“所以，你或吃，或喝，无论做什么，都要为荣耀神而行。”我们要避免在这种场合绊倒软弱的信徒和非信徒。任何人都不应只求自己的益处，而应求他人的益处（哥林多前书 10:24）。 因此， 一味关注什么能做，什么不能做，不如追求耶稣基督所设定的更高标准！
讲章系列：凡事不都有益处
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