Jump Start # 1373

1 Corinthians 7:1 “Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

  The letter to the Corinthians is laid out in a very interesting fashion. The book opens with Paul dealing with what he has heard about them. It wasn’t good. There was division. So the first few chapters lay foundations and principles that addresses those things.

Starting with our verse, Chapter 7, Paul answers questions that the Corinthians had asked him. This continues for several chapters.

• Now concerning the things about which you wrote (7:1)
• Now concerning things sacrificed to idols (8:1)
• Now concerning spiritual gifts (12:1)
• Now concerning the collection for the saints (16:1)

What we find by looking at these questions are the things that were on the hearts and minds of those brethren. We see what was troubling them. We see what they didn’t understand. Questions to an apostle. Some time ago, I took a month and preached about those questions and Paul’s answers.

I’ve often wondered what a congregation would ask today? Are there questions that we have today? The Corinthian questions dealt with the practical application of how we are to live and what we are to do. Putting God’s principles into action often are the hardest things.

I pretty much expect if the shepherds from the congregation where I worship were to ask some questions, they’d be rather insightful, deep and not easy to answer. That’s the way my guys are. They are real thinkers. They don’t move along the surface, they are the kind that lower their nets into the deep.

There are a few interesting lessons we see from looking at the Corinthian questions.

  First, none of the questions asked deal with what Paul talked about in the first six chapters. There are no questions about division, church discipline, lawsuits. Those things are not found in the questions. This makes me wonder if sometimes we miss the obvious. We can spend our time thinking about theories and ideas and other things but miss the most important thing—living for Jesus. Our sermons can do that. Our Bible classes can do that. We can talk about all kinds of interesting things but not the most needful thing.

Second, the fact that they asked questions showed that they were thinking and wanting to do what is right. They could have just tried to figure things out for themselves. Instead, they sought an apostle. We do the same when we turn to the Bible. Asking for help is never wrong. Sometimes we might be embarrassed because the answers we need involve personal things. Maybe we need help with staying in our budget. Maybe we need help with our marriage. Maybe we need help in staying focused spiritually. Maybe we don’t know the books of the Bible and we are ashamed of that. Maybe we struggle with a reoccurring sin. Asking for help is never wrong. We ought to present an environment where anyone feels comfortable asking any question.

  Third, the answer the apostle provides may not be the answer that we were looking for nor hoping for. That happens. Then we are faced with what we should do. Will we do what the apostle says or what we wanted all along? It is at this moment that we either are walking with Christ or we are disagreeing with God. God’s word is always right. God’s word defines what is right.

  Fourth, there seems to be a spiritual tone and theme running through all of their questions. The first question about touching a woman involves the sexual relations in a marriage. Now that one was a Christian, did that change? Was that now wrong? What if one in the marriage wasn’t a Christian? Does that change things?

Their question about eating things sacrificed to idols raised the concern about compromising with things that are false. If one eats idol food, does that mean he endorses idols? Is it wrong to do that? Great question.

Their third question, about spiritual gifts, involved worship and what all was involved with these miraculous gifts.

Their final question was about the contribution gathered by the church.

None of these questions were silly. None of them were out of place. Great thoughts. They were thinking spiritually. They wanted to do right. A growing church will have questions. Relationships, fellowship and the best way to worship always brings ideas, thoughts, concerns and questions.

Fifth, they took their questions to Paul, an apostle. They didn’t convene a council. They didn’t vote on what they thought was right. They asked Paul. Paul, who was inspired. Paul, who had the authority of Christ. Paul, who wrote the commandments of Jesus. Sometimes great questions get the wrong answers because they were taken to the wrong source. Asking a friend at work about your sinking marriage, may give you the wrong answer. Looking on the internet for an answer may give you the wrong answer. Take your question to the Bible. Do some homework. Look carefully and do your research. Dr. Phil, Oprah, and those like that, all have an opinion. Their opinion may not be what God says.

Questions? Do you have some? Are you trying to find the right answers in the right places?

Roger