LIVING ACCURATELY IN AFFLUENCE
“Don’t play with fire and expect not to be burnt.” Rev. George Varughese
“To live in sin is to sleep with the devil.” Rev. George Varughese
Warfare Series
1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”[a] 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all[b] these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
Background of Corinth
- A Greek city-state
- Strategic location for commerce
- Favoured economic boom
- Money attracted people from the East and West
- Became a melting pot of religion
- West: Roman
- laws, culture and rligion
- East: Egypt and Asia
- mystery cults
- Vice and religion religion flourished
- Corinthians came from the word korinthiazo = to act like a Corinthian = to commit fornication
- Paul’s Corinth was the New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas of the ancient world (ISBE)
flee from idolatry; (Gills) 1 Corinthians 10:14
- the apostle’s meaning is, not only that they would not worship idols, or commit plain downright acts of idolatry;
- but that they would stand at the greatest distance from idols, not so much as go into an idol’s temple, and there sit down and eat; which if not a real act of idolatry, had at least the show of one;
- and his sense is, that they would abstain from all appearance of idolatry, from every occasion of it, and whatsoever led unto it;
- particularly he means, that they would not eat of things sacrificed to idols as such, and in an idol’s temple; which he considers as a species of idolatrous worship, and by a similar instance he after proves it to be so, even a partaking of the table of devils.
Key Lessons:
1. Affluence attracts sinful life: vices (promiscuous) and idolatrous life
- a reminder lest we get into the trap
2. Don’t let success lea you astray from God
- to make you make you to live independent of God
- to lure you to live a sinful life
3. Don’t let success cause you to have pride
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
4. To live in sin is to sleep with the devil and to get trapped with demonic influence
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14
- to live in the status quo is attractive
- but what comes with it is a life of sin
- dominated by demonic forces
- thus to live apart from God and God-life
5. God delivers us from human temptation
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
6. God may allow affliction to stay with us for us to depend on Him
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
- for God does not always think fit to remove at once an affliction or temptation, though at the earnest request of his people,
- as in the case of Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:7 yet he gives them grace sufficient to endure and stand up under it, yea, to get the victory of it, to be more that conquerors, and triumph over it. (Gills)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7. We cannot live a dualistic life / worldly life
- (A) a life of idolatry
- a life of worshipping idols in temples
- a life of partaking in idol worship
- a life of living idolatrous life / praxis of religion
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 1 Corinthians 10:21-22
- (B) a worldly life
- to mix Christian life with worldly sinful life
- though grace abounds but for a limited time only
6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Romans 6:1-2
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