Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 8:1
God used Paul to answer many questions that the Christians in Corinth had about several different issues. God had already used Paul to address questions about marriage and remaining single. As we read 1 Corinthians 8, we see how God used Paul to answer the question about eating meat sacrificed to idols. In Corinth, during the time of Paul, many people worshipped idols. So, the Christians in Corinth were wondering if it was all right to eat the meat that had been sacrificed to idols. The reason they asked is that if a priest chose not to eat their portion of the meat that had been sacrificed to an idol, they could sell the meat at the temple’s meat market. Before answering the question about the meat, however, God had Paul talk about knowledge and love. A Christian’s behavior is grounded in love, not knowledge, for God even tells us in 1 John 4:7–8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Love, not knowledge, is the foundation of every Christian’s life. Jesus even said in Matthew 22:37–40 that loving God and loving others were the two greatest commandments. God was reaffirming the solid foundation of love for the Christians in Corinth and for us today. Loving God and loving others is where we must start with any issue in life. When loving God and others takes priority, then most issues are resolved relatively quickly.
Challenge & Application
Why is loving God and others the foundation we must begin with when dealing with most issues in life?
How have you experienced the benefit of loving God and others when it came to conflicts in your life?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!