Reflections on 1 Corinthians 10:30
“If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?” (1 Corinthians 10:30, NIV)
Paul ate with a clear conscience. He thanked God for the food, and gratitude settled the matter between him and his Lord. The Remedy puts his stance simply: he would not be held hostage by the opinions of others.
The opinion of others is never meant to shape our actions. But the heart of someone searching for truth should always be a soft place in our souls.
Sometimes the person criticizing us is that searching soul. They don’t yet have the understanding, experience, or relationship with the Lord to sort out the truth behind everything they believe. It takes time and maturity before they can look at those they admire in the faith and comfortably let each person walk their own journey. We are not all learning the same things at the same time. A truth one soul finds a glorious comfort, another must struggle to accept.
So be slow to judge and slow to criticize. Trust what your past experience with someone has shown you about their heart, and give them room to explain their current choices. If something directly affects your life, ask your questions in Love, ready to hear the best answer. Don’t shy away from the questions that need asking. And when offense is given, be ready to do whatever you can to make it right. When it’s your responsibility, own it, fix it, and move on.
There will be many times we stand alone in our decisions, alone except for God. What a great exception He is. These are the times to know yourself and to know your God and Friend, the One who guided your life to that very decision. Stand firm. Know what you know. The Lord will give you the strength and wisdom to continue in the truth He has shown you.
But standing firm is not the same as closing your ears. The most valuable piece of wisdom I can offer is this: remain teachable. We can fool ourselves into believing the Lord led us to a decision simply because it makes sense to us. Stay willing to hear truth from people you respect who have also been walking with the Lord.
If God really has shown you something others don’t yet understand, their objections won’t change it. In fact, you need their objections to refine that truth even further.
Your only safeguard against fooling yourself is to stay in a truly teachable spirit.
