Watch How You Live

According to Genesis 1:30, when the human race was created, God gave them “every green herb” for food. In fact, all creatures ate only herbs or vegetables. Meat was not in the diet at that time.

In Genesis 9:3 the Scripture states, “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb I have given you all things.” That was after the Flood, after Noah’s day. At that time the human race was permitted to eat meat. Later, under the law given to Moses, certain animals were on the no, no list (see Leviticus 11). Only those with a split hoof and that chewed the cud were permitted as food. Of the water creatures, only those with scales would be eaten. So eels and catfish were not permitted. And above all, blood was strictly forbidden. The mixing of milk and meat came from the statement in the Bible that the people were not to seethe a kid in its mother’s milk (Exodus 23:19).

Today some people still rigidly adhere to these strict directives. Some are strict vegetarians. Now, some dietitians argue that we must have a certain amount of meat in our diet. But that has not been proven absolutely. We can get proteins from plant foods. Nature is complete.

In Paul’s day, the idol worshipers made animal sacrifices, as indeed the Jews did. And often when they made such sacrifices, they ate the meat that had been sacrificed as sort of a fellowship meal with the idol or with God, as it happened to be. Sometimes following the sacrifice to idols, pagans had a communal meal to “fellowship” with the idols and their friends. In Corinth, some of the Christians were invited to their pagan neighbors’ meals.

In I Corinthians 8 Paul addresses how the practice of meat sacrificed to idols affects Christians. There is an underlying truth here, however, more than the meat issue. Into the mix of the diet, Paul brings the experience of knowledge.

This is the last message in the division of the book that I have called “Christ Is Made Unto Us Righteousness.” Let’s consider I Corinthians 8:1-13 for the message I have called WATCH HOW YOU LIVE:

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other god but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

In Paul’s discussion, I find several foundational EQUATIONS related to how we should live.

The first equation is:

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

The apostle says that everyone has knowledge. Some have minimal knowledge; some have more knowledge. The mind is capable of both. That is why our children go to school. We can train the mind. That is why we buy books to read. That is why you are reading my book right now. You believe that what I will be able to bring to you will help you. It will build you up.

Some take pride in the knowledge they have. They think of themselves as wiser than they are. But the apostle says, “If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know” (verse 2).

When we compare what we know with what is out there to know, we know very little. Everybody knows only very little. No one can justify or take pride in how much he or she knows. Of course, knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Ignorance is not bliss. Knowledge is helpful. But Paul says, “Knowledge puffs up.”

Love is superior to knowledge. God has both fully. When one exercises love, he has knowledge of God and God has knowledge of him. Love identifies us with God!

Barnes tells us something about love:

The doctrine is, that love for God and for each other is a better guide in determining what to do than mere knowledge. And it is so. It will prompt us to seek the welfare of others and to avoid what would injure them. It will make us tender, affectionate, and kind; and will better tell us what to do, and how to do it in the best way, than all the abstract knowledge that is conceivable.

In this equation love outweighs knowledge.

The second equation is:

7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

We take up questions of right and wrong. Let me tell you, it is never right to do wrong, no matter what the end may be. The end does not justify the means. Furthermore, every person has a conscience. It is the voice of God in the soul. Even the most wicked and most ignorant person has a conscience, a monitoring conscience that tells him what is right and wrong.

I would also say, no one lives up to the knowledge he or she has. That is our continual problem. We know better than we do. And the conscience judges every act.

For years teachers of ethics have argued for a neutral zone, called the gray zone. They tell us there is nothing right or wrong in that gray zone. Do whatever you want to do. I affirm that is not true. When you are dealing with two people, you may lay out a gray zone. But when you are dealing with yourself, there is no gray zone.

Every person has moral principles that govern conduct. And every person is accountable for his conduct and to his conscience.

Here we look at the sacrifice offered to idols. When someone ate the meat at dinner after the sacrifice, it showed he considered the idol to be a god. Some of the Corinthian Church members ignored it. They said that the idol was nothing. It was neither here nor there.

Knowledge, they claimed, gave them the right to eat. But they did not consider all the ramifications. Many Christians today do not consider all the ramifications of their conduct. They may very easily be a stumbling block to others.

Conscience is superior to knowledge. Let me again bring you a few words from Barnes:

We are not so stupid as to suppose that the block of wood, or the carved image, or the chiseled marble is a real intelligence, and is conscious and capable of receiving worship or benefiting its votaries. We fully admit, and know that the whole thing is delusive; and there can be no danger that, by partaking of the food offered in sacrifice to them, we should ever be brought to a belief of the stupendous falsehood that they are true objects of worship, or to deny the true God. There is no doubt that the more intelligent heathen had this knowledge; and doubtless, nearly all Christians possessed it, though a few who had been educated in the grosser views of heathenism might still have regarded the idol with a superstitious reverence.

Watch how you live. Conscience is superior to knowledge.

The third equation is:

9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

The apostle warns us not to use liberty to hurt somebody. “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” Liberty can be a stumbling block. I examined the word liberty and found it is often translated in the New Testament as “authority,” only once “liberty.” Many times it is translated “power.” Get the real picture. “Take heed lest by any means your authority becomes a stumbling block.”

Every person must seek to control his or her conduct and avoid being a hindrance or a stumbling block. We all are on the stage all the time, regardless of who we are. Somebody is always watching and drawing conclusions. That is awesome and rather frightening.

Consider your neighbor, the apostle says, take care of what you do, support the right and good, and take care that what you do does not run roughshod over somebody’s conscience.

No one has the right to trample over another person’s conscience. We might say to them, “Do not be so silly.” But we have to consider how they think and feel.5

We never have liberty to cause another person to violate his or her conscience. We have some reason also to educate our own conscience and help other people to educate theirs.

Now the apostle Paul made a wonderful statement at the end of the chapter. He said, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” 

In reality, Christ is our noble example. Notice what Barnes has to say on this point:

Christ, though he was rich, yet so lived that all may safely imitate him; though he was honored of God, and exalted to the highest office as the Redeemer of the world, yet he lived so that all in every rank may follow him; though he had all power, and was worshipped by angels, yet so lived that he might teach the most humble and lowly how to live, and so lived that it is safe and proper for all to live as he did. So should every monarch, and prince, and rich man; every noble, and every learned man; every man of honor and office; every master of a family, and every man of age and wisdom, live that all others may learn of them how to live and that they may safely walk in their footsteps.

You know, friend, life is more than food, clothing, and shelter. Paul instructs us to Watch How We Live. We need more than knowledge. Consider our main points again.

Knowledge needs to be balanced by Love.

Knowledge needs to be balanced by Conscience.

Knowledge needs to be balanced by Liberty.