November 20
1 Corinthians 8:1-11:1
“Why aren’t you playing pool?” I asked my father this question at a Sunday school class party where he was the teacher of the group. I could not understand why my father, who was a good pool player, did not take on the other men. He quietly shushed me and later explained that Carl, a rough-hewn man in the class, had come through life frequenting squalid pool houses and did not want to play pool, because it reminded him of that life. Therefore, my father refrained from playing pool that evening.
Like Paul, who knew certain foods in and of themselves were not wrong, my father knew playing pool was not wrong. He choose to respond with love to “build” up [develop another person’s life through acts and words of love and encouragement (Biblegateway Hebrew/Greek)] Carl by refraining from doing something that may lead him back into a former life or stir memories that would not benefit him. What a lesson for me as a pre-teen.
Today, I pondered if there were activities that I should not be doing that may not edify my neighbors or bring glory to God. Was I doing things that hindered them from coming to him? I thought of my driving, critical spirit, gossip, judgment of other’s actions…
Paul encourages us to “not seek (our) own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33).
Father, help me to know when to refrain from actions and behaviors so I can show you to others and bring glory to your name. Amen.
Are there any things from which you may need to refrain so others may be drawn to him?
“Why aren’t you playing pool?” I asked my father this question at a Sunday school class party where he was the teacher of the group. I could not understand why my father, who was a good pool player, did not take on the other men. He quietly shushed me and later explained that Carl, a rough-hewn man in the class, had come through life frequenting squalid pool houses and did not want to play pool, because it reminded him of that life. Therefore, my father refrained from playing pool that evening.
Like Paul, who knew certain foods in and of themselves were not wrong, my father knew playing pool was not wrong. He choose to respond with love to “build” up [develop another person’s life through acts and words of love and encouragement (Biblegateway Hebrew/Greek)] Carl by refraining from doing something that may lead him back into a former life or stir memories that would not benefit him. What a lesson for me as a pre-teen.
Today, I pondered if there were activities that I should not be doing that may not edify my neighbors or bring glory to God. Was I doing things that hindered them from coming to him? I thought of my driving, critical spirit, gossip, judgment of other’s actions…
Paul encourages us to “not seek (our) own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33).
Father, help me to know when to refrain from actions and behaviors so I can show you to others and bring glory to your name. Amen.
Are there any things from which you may need to refrain so others may be drawn to him?
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