Many people love to quote verse 13 which promises God will not allow you to be tempted more than you are able to bear. This has been claimed to mean deliverance from sin, but it is actually referring, to the difficulties of life. It has been taught you ought to be able to handle anything which comes your way. This idea is wrong.
The reason this is wrong is that the verse clearly says God will give you a way of escape. If you don't take the way then you are in trouble. For example, the way to escape from getting hit by a car on the interstate is not to walk in the middle of the interstate. Verse 14 demonstrates one way to escape idolatry, run from it. This would mean don't get anywhere near it. Also, we sometimes do not obey God, and then we find ourselves in a place that gets us into trouble. David in the Old Testament should have been on the field of battle but instead stayed home and saw a woman bathing(2 Samuel 11). We know how that ended up. Yes, God forgave David and even blessed him but much of the troubles he faced later directly resulted from his sin. As one person said, you can’t sow wild oats and pray for a crop failure.
My final thought on this scripture is this: Paul says we will be able to bear it. Yes, we might just have to put up with it. We might have to carry the weight and pain of it until we get to heaven. The perfect example is Paul's thorn in the flesh mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (my guess is this was very, very painful). God said His grace would be sufficient for Paul, but Paul would have to bear with it. God said it was for Paul's good, which I believe is true. However, bearing with something over a long time especially pain is never comfortable or easy. Jesus didn't promise easy street, just the straight and narrow which would lead to a better life.
So let's bear with it.
1Co 10:1-33
(1) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
(2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
(3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
(4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
(5) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
(6) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
(7) Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
(8) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
(9) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
(10) Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
(11) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
(12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
(14) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
(15) I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
(16) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
(17) For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
(18) Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?
(19) What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
(20) But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
(21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
(22) Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
(23) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
(24) Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
(25) Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
(26) For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
(27) If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
(28) But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
(29) Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
(30) For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
(31) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
(32) Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
(33) Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
No comments:
Post a Comment