Be Careful
1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:14
Paul, in this passage, continues his warnings
to the experienced Christian. So often this passage is
taken as a warning to the new Christian; it is not so. Listen,
and learn.
(1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV) Do you not know that in a
race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in
such a way as to get the prize. {25} Everyone who competes in
the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown
that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last
forever. {26} Therefore I do not run like a man running
aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. {27} No, I
beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached
to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(1 Cor 10:1-14 NIV) For I do not want you to
be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all
under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. {2}
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
{3} They all ate the same spiritual food {4} and drank the same
spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that
accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. {5} Nevertheless,
God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were
scattered over the desert. {6} Now these things occurred as
examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as
they did. {7} Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it
is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to
indulge in pagan revelry." {8} We should not commit sexual
immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three
thousand of them died. {9} We should not test the Lord, as some
of them did--and were killed by snakes. {10} And do not grumble,
as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.
{11} These things happened to them as examples and were written
down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has
come. {12} So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful
that you don't fall! {13} No temptation has seized you except
what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you
be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under
it. {14} Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
The need for bodily discipline
It is clear that Paul is speaking of bodily
discipline for the mature Christian. We often like to
“spiritualize” this passage, for bodily discipline is not a
popular subject these days. But Paul tells us that it is
necessary, and necessary for the mature Christian.
A sense of purpose
This is not the discipline of some ascetic
sect in which the discipline is an end in and of itself. This
discipline has a purpose.
·
The discipline itself is
bodily. That means, it deals with those things arising
from the fact that we have a human body – such things as
sexual desire, the longing for party and pleasure, our
aches and pains and even our desire for rest.
·
The purpose, however, is
spiritual. The effect of this discipline is to help in
keeping us from sin.
·
There’s a reason for this,
and we have touched on it before. We’re amphibians.
Humans must have a body, unlike the angels. Christ’s
body was just like ours – and therefore he understands
our bodily temptations. He too disciplined his body.
But what purpose?
The purpose is to keep us from those sins
which arise from the fact that we have a body – and that fact
allows Satan an entry point for temptation. For example:
·
We would all recognize as
sins of the body such things as adultery, fornication,
drunkenness and gluttony.
·
There are also those worldly
sins which come from the flesh – particularly those
which involve the love of pleasure and ease; sloth, for
example.
·
Beyond that are sins which
seem spiritual but may arise from the body. Are we
presumptuous in testing the Lord with regard to our
aches and pains? Do we grumble against him in our
infirmities?
If it could happen to Paul…
It can happen to us. We know that temptation
afflicts the weak, but Satan hasn’t given up on the rest of us
yet. If this discipline is good for the weak, it is good for the
strong as well – indeed, it just may be one of the ways in which
you become strong.
If you consider yourself a mature Christian,
remember that this makes your responsibilities – and danger –
all the greater. The destroyer is not sent to do the
battleship’s job; but when the battleship arrives, the shells
are always the big ones.
Our Example: Israel
Paul knows something about our human nature.
We just don’t want to believe in hell. Have you ever noticed
that most of the references to hell for human beings come from
our Lord himself? Paul knows you can’t really picture yourself
in hell. So he gives you an example you can picture.
In so doing, he makes use of what is often
called a “type.” A type is an event in the Old Testament which
foreshadows – and gives insight upon – things in the New
Testament. This sounds very “theological” – and it can certainly
be stretched a great deal in that direction. But there is a very
practical use for us: the Old Testament is there for our warning
and admonition.
Think of it this way: you’re probably sitting
content right now, thinking, “I wonder who he’s talking about –
certainly not me!” Your faith is strong; you know you’re on
solid ground. But consider those ancient Israelites Paul
mentions here. Think about how many miracles they saw! “If I
ever saw even one miracle, my faith would be so strong…”
How many of those people – there were about
two million, by some estimates – ever saw the promised land?
Two. Just two. Joshua and Caleb – one in a million. It can
happen to you; it can happen to me; it can happen to Paul.
All the right spiritual moves
Many in the church place their reliance on
the external signs that God has given us. Those signs are good –
if they are completed in the actions of our lives.
·
Baptism - they were
“baptized” in the Red Sea, Paul tells us. They had the
same kind of initiation we have; it wasn’t enough.
·
Communion – they too
ate “the bread of heaven.” Our Lord draws this type out
for us explicitly, so we know we can make this parallel.
They had their form of “Lord’s Supper” – and it wasn’t
enough.
You can have all the right spiritual moves,
but if you do not follow up – “work out your salvation in fear
and trembling” – it is not enough.
Fulfilling God’s requirements
How is it that Christians can deceive
themselves like this?
·
Some reduce the faith to a
set of rules. Paul’s talked about such, and told us to
be gentle with them. But if you rely entirely on “the
rules” you substitute the part for the whole. It is not
enough.
·
Some think that God is in
their debt! “I’ve been a very good person, much better
than I would have been otherwise. God, you owe me.” To
state it is to see the fallacy, but it’s a common one.
Things to avoid
However we construct this bodily discipline –
and note that Paul gives us no formula for this, he leaves it to
us to figure out – there are certain things he does mention as
being specific problems:
Idolatry
It’s interesting to see the passage Paul is
talking about here. It’s from Exodus 32:6-8. What’s interesting
about it is that the idolatry starts with a party. These people
evidently felt that it was no great sin to worship an idol;
after all, the party was on, who wouldn’t join in? But it shows
us the connection between idolatry – the worship of anything
other than God – and our love of pleasure.
·
Have you ever seen a true
football fan – one for whom the team comes first on
Sundays?
·
How about the person whose
recreation – the boat, the cabin, the trip to Mazatlan –
comes before Christ?
·
Or – to come to a simpler
point – you’re too drunk on Saturday night to get up
early for church on Sunday. (Of course, if your tee time
is early, that’s different.)
Sexual immorality
This is so clearly condemned that it seems
amazing to hear the excuses – from Christians:
·
You can be blatant about it:
“I want to sleep with my girlfriend, therefore there is
no God.” (Granoff’s law).
·
We’re usually more subtle:
“How can anything so beautiful be wrong?” (I have my
standards, God has his, hey … we just happen to
disagree.)
·
Or, if we let pride have our
way: “I’m not 17 any more; I’m an adult; I can handle
this.”
Testing the Lord
We might have a problem understanding just
what it means to “test” the Lord. So let me give you some
examples:
·
The trained bear
syndrome. We treat God as if he were a trained bear.
Whenever we have a problem, we get out our trained bear,
give him careful instructions on exactly how to handle
the problem, and expect him to perform on command. (Does
this sound presumptuous?)
·
I don’t have to ask.
Whenever I have a problem, I don’t have to take it to
God in prayer – certainly not in penitent, pleading
prayer. He knows what I’m going through, and I’m certain
he doesn’t need to hear from me about it.
·
Giving good advice.
Sometimes it’s not our problem; it’s someone else’s. We
give them our wonderful advice, telling them we know
exactly what God will do. Isn’t that a little
presumptuous too?
Grumbling
Most Christians don’t consider this a sin
(but see the book of Exodus on the subject); they consider it
their right.
·
But consider: when things
are going well, are we mystified as to why? Don’t we
have a ready explanation in our own efforts? So when
they’re going poorly, why do we grumble against God?
·
Of course, we’re not going
to do this amongst those pious souls at church. We’re
going to do it under our breath – that way, God and
those other Christians won’t hear us. (Yeah, right.)
·
The real problem: we’re
willing to stand up to God – but not willing to go to
our knees before the Sovereign of the Universe.
To all these, God provides a way out. If you
are tempted, God will provide a way of evading the temptation.
It may be as simple as, “if my people, who are called by name,
will humble themselves and pray…”
Does all this seem academic to you? Remember
to whom this passage is addressed:
(1 Cor 10:12 NIV) So, if you think you are
standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
As mother used to say, “Boy-san, this means you!”
