How do you do with directions? It has been said that there are three types of people when it comes to directions:
- Those who do well with directions
- Those who are okay with directions
- Those who the GPS asks them, “Where in the world are you going???”
No matter which category you fall into, driving in an unfamiliar place—especially while it’s dark—can be difficult. If you’re not careful, you can wind up in some places that you do not want to be.
1 Corinthians is a letter that Paul wrote to Christians in a city called Corinth during the first century. This letter shows us that this church had many issues. In the passage we will look at today, Paul shares four important things that we would do well to hear and apply in our own lives as we seek to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
The Command
14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I am speaking as to sensible people. Judge for yourselves what I am saying.
1 Corinthians 10:14–15 CSB
As Paul begins this section of the letter, he speaks to them out of his care for them. He calls them “dear friends” — some translations say, “beloved.” What Paul is about to share is going to be pointed because he will address something that was happening in the lives of the Corinthian believers that didn’t need to happen. Sometimes the greatest way to show someone you really care about them is to confront them when they are doing wrong.
The command we are looking at is found in verse 14: flee from idolatry.
What is idolatry?
Idolatry is the act of a person giving his or her worship/devotion to something other than the one true God. We call these things idols. We may be tempted to think about statues made from wood or precious materials. The truth is just about anything can become an idol in a person’s life — cell phones, video games, hobbies, other people’s opinions about us, etc. The list of potential idols in our lives seems to go on like a young child’s Christmas list.
“The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.”
John Calvin
Each human being has been created by God with a desire to worship something. Sadly, since the fall of humans in the Garden of Eden, we have looked to many things to satisfy that desire other than the one true God.
There is something within each of us that is drawn to idolatry. In 1 Corinthians 10:14, Paul strongly urges believers to flee from idolatry. Notice he didn’t say flirt with idolatry but flee from it. Too many times, we would rather flirt with things that we should flee from. We look to see how close we can get to the edge without it being “sin.” This reveals to us that our hearts still need work.
If we are going to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, we cannot flirt with things that seek to steal the worship/devotion that is due Him.
The Argument
The second important thing Paul discusses in this passage is his argument for obeying the command. When it comes to people’s reactions, some things do not change over time. When Paul tells the Corinthian believers to stop doing something, there will be those who ask, “Why?”
In verses 16-20, Paul lays out an argument for why we should be quick to flee from idolatry in our lives. The main point of Paul’s argument is the truth that when you associate with something, it is taken by those around you as you affirming and being part of it as well.
Paul uses three examples in his argument:
1. The Lord’s Table
16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread.
1 Corinthians 10:16–17 CSB
The cup and the bread Paul mentions in these verses point to the Lord’s table. The Lord’s Supper holds a special place in the heart of a Christian. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as a way for His followers to be reminded of His sacrifice for them. It is not to be taken lightly. Paul reminds his readers that when they drink the cup at the Lord’s Supper, they are doing so in a way that shares in the blood that Jesus shed for their forgiveness. Paul also says that when a person eats the bread, they are sharing in the body of Christ.
When we partake in the Lord’s Supper, we don’t do it because it is a certain day or because “we’re supposed to.” We are to do it intentionally with full engagement, remembering what Jesus has done on our behalf. His body was broken so that our brokenness could be mended. His blood was shed so that our sins could be forgiven. Without either of those, we are left hopeless.
2. Israel’s Old Testament Sacrifice
18 Consider the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
1 Corinthians 10:18 CSB
Paul reminds his readers about the sacrifices the Jewish people would do in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament book of Leviticus, one can see a number of sacrifices the Jewish people were commanded to offer to the Lord. Each of these sacrifices pointed to the sacrifice God would make through His Son, Jesus, on the cross. With many of these sacrifices, the one bringing the sacrifice would be given a portion of it to eat. There was a participation the presenter had with the sacrifice. They were not just bystanders and observers of the sacrifice. They were part of the sacrifice.
Paul uses this illustration to point to the fact that worship is involved, you do not sit by and watch… you have a part in it.
3. The Table of Idols
In verses 19-20, Paul gets to the main issue he is addressing: the Table of Idols.
19 What am I saying then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons!
1 Corinthians 10:19–20 CSB
In Corinth, worship was popular. There was the Temple of Aphrodite, the Isthmus Games – dedicated to the Greek god, Poseidon, and it was the regional capital of the Roman Empire. It seemed like just about everywhere you looked, worship of something was going on.
Paul addresses an important point in these verses. He states that idols or false gods hold no true weight in the grand scheme of things. They aren’t real. But the sacrifices or worship that takes place towards them is very real, and it is actually being done to demons. Demons are fallen angels who sided with Satan when he tried to overthrow God. Their job is to do the bidding of Satan and steal worship from the one true God.
Paul points out that, while the Corinthian believers knew these false gods and idols weren’t real, they would still participate in certain festivals and events because they enjoyed them. They thought, “I don’t believe in this junk, but the events are fun,” or “I’m just hanging with my friends who believe this stuff, but I don’t believe in any of it.”
Paul reminds his readers that participation is often seen as acceptance and even approval. He urges them not to participate in the work of demons even when it seems harmless.
The Conclusion
As Paul lays out his reasons for telling them to flee from idolatry, he brings it to a conclusion with a sharp point in verse 21.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
1 Corinthians 10:21 CSB
Paul states that a person cannot share in both the Table of the Lord and the Table of Idols. It is a divided allegiance. Jesus would say something similar in Matthew 6:24.
24 “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24 CSB
A person cannot dine at two different tables. Jesus knew this. Paul knew this. We would do well to learn this as well. When you participate in anything, you give the impression that you are condoning whatever it is. As much as we would like to say, “I don’t believe any of this stuff. I’m just here to enjoy the scene and people,” the message we give says something completely different.
If we are going to be followers of Jesus, it will call for following Him in every aspect of our lives. We cannot compartmentalize our lives so as to give Jesus some parts, but others will be given to something else. Jesus desires for us to follow Him wholeheartedly. He died so that our entire lives could be redeemed, not just parts.
The Warning
Paul concludes this section of his letter with a warning in verse 22.
22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 10:22 CSB
Sometimes, we find ourselves in situations out of ignorance—we don’t know any better. We wander about in the dark for a while, and then someone shines a light on the situation, and we realize why there have been so many temptations in our lives—we have allowed ourselves to go to a place we shouldn’t be.
What Paul addresses in verse 22 is another thing. Could it be that some of the Corinthian believers were intentionally provoking the Lord? Some people fall into the trap that Adam and Eve did — we know better than God in this situation. We dig our heels in the ground and say, “God isn’t going to boss me around.”
Paul warns his readers—then and today—that this is dangerous ground. Do we really think that we are stronger than the Lord? Do we really think that we have a better outlook on what is around us? He is all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful. Purposefully testing God’s grace reveals to us that we do not understand His grace very much.
Final Thoughts
In our lives, we will find ourselves sitting at the table of something. We will pull up a seat and partake in what is going on. As we do that, we also show those around us who we are allowing to lead our lives.
The same Holy Spirit that caused Paul to urge the Corinthians to flee from idolatry and follow Jesus wholeheartedly is the same Holy Spirit that is speaking that word to us today. I would encourage you to examine the tables that you are partaking. Are they tables that reflect your new life in Christ, or are they the tables of idols that seek to steal your worship and devotion from Jesus? A person cannot partake in two different tables at the same time. What table are you partaking?
The Lord has invited us to come and partake of His table. It is a table filled with grace and mercy. It is a table set by Him to meet our every need. What need do we have to pull up a chair at any other table? Has the Lord proven insufficient at any time?
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