CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL ON YOUTUBE
1 Corinthians 10:23-24
The Apostle Paul begins 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NKJV) by stating, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful;”. The (NIV) interprets this passage as stating, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial.” This reflects the same attitude as that of 1 Corinthians 6:8 (NKJV), “No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” Paul gives correction for this attitude by instructing that as “those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” should, “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” Paul is teaching the congregation at the church in Corinth to stop being self-centered and selfish, and to consider each other’s well-being over their own.
This is a command to put others before ourselves.
Jesus stated in Matthew 22:37-40 when asked which commandment was the greatest, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” This Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. It is this attitude that Paul is teaching the congregation of the church at Corinth; the attitude in which we all should employ in our own lives.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to realize and understand that You saved us through Your giving heart that is always thinking of taking care of us – that we would take upon ourselves this same attitude of putting the needs of others before ourselves, that our lives would be reflective of Christ Jesus – the One who gave it all for us on the cross. In Jesus name I pray, amen.