Paul transitions his talk from discipline to demons. He begins with the story of the Israelites living in the desert. Between their escape from slavery in Egypt and arrival in the land that became the nation of Israel was forty years of wandering in the desert learning to depend on God. Not only did they have to physically leave a land, but they had to give up their dedication to idols. What is an idol? Anything that replaces God in your heart. Even though God provided water from a rock, and daily rations from heaven to his people, they still looked elsewhere to get their needs met. The people participated in pagan worship that included sexual acts. God punished them by sending venomous snakes in the desert.
He tells his readers to not be arrogant, there is no sin that is not common to man. Even though we all face temptation to do wrong things, Paul says that God provides escape. We have God’s power to choose a better path. Paul doesn’t want the readers to keep putting their faith in idols which he associates with demons. Instead, they should trust God.
We should thank God for our food and drink wine and eating bread in remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice. In Paul’s time, food at the local market may have already been blessed to idols. He was not afraid though, because all provision comes from God. Paul says that believers should not willingly participate in both pagan and Christian practices, so as not to provoke God’s jealousy.
He reminds the reader that everything might be legal, but it is not always helpful. He wants them to put others first. If a pagan neighbor invites them over, they should share a meal with gratitude, not asking where it comes from. If the neighbors tell them that they sacrificed the food to idols, they can opt out, so they don’t offend the conscience of other believers. Rather than condemning the convictions of weak believers, Paul wants to bring community to together in unity.
“Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:17
What’s in your bag?