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Imitating Paul - 1 Cor. 11:1
Imitating Paul - 1 Cor. 11:1
Jesus gave the great commission to ‘go into all the world and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded” (Matt. 28:18-20). Paul had come to Corinth and called these people to follow the LORD. Part of the duty of every good teacher is to be a role model of such teaching. As Paul would ask elsewhere: “You who teach others, do you not teach yourself?” Whether we like it or not, we are examples unto others! Paul here acknowledges such responsibility and calls on them to follow his example in following Jesus. This then is not really about such matters of discipleship, for in the end Jesus is our Master and it is HIS teaching that we follow.
This verse is the ENDING conclusion to the section 10:23-33. This section addresses the problem of eating meat that had been offered to an idol. Eating such meat is not sinful in and of itself, but if it causes a brother to sin, then it is wrong for me to insist on doing it. Paul’s “right” was not considered more important than the salvation of others.
The aim of all discipleship is to glorify God in all that we do. That includes the willingness to ‘give up’ (or forego) our RIGHTS and seek ‘that which profits’ others. We are to willingly give up our rights in order that others would be saved. Paul here does not ask anyone to do what he wasn’t willing to do (read again Chapter 9!). Paul was in fact imitating Jesus in this! He later wrote: For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." (Rom. 15:3).
Later, Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). This he put forth as ‘the mind of Christ’ that we ALL should have (Phil. 2: 5)
We must learn not only to ask “is it my right”, but “how does this affect my brother?” Are you willing to forego YOUR RIGHTS in order that others might be saved?
Hugh DeLong
