The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-11-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER rs.

bupJect' abstinence For the Sake OF
Others, i. Cor. r., 23. 33--GoIdcn Text.
4. Cor. T., 1s-Memory Verses, 3f-ss
documentary on the Days Lesson.
in verses 1922 Paul resumes the dis
cussion from chapter s:13 touching the
eating OF meats which had been offered
IN sacrifice to idols. In the lesson be-
fore us we have some practical direc-
tions on this subject.
20. 24.
20. "All things are lawful 7 NAV
lawfully eat all kinds of food, but all
are not expedient. 1t would not be be-
coming In me TO eat of oil. because I
should by this offend and grieve many
. weak minds. Though 1t may be adj
mitted that 1t Is strictly lawful to eat
meats offered to idols. yet there are
strong reasons why 1t Is inexpedient.
and those. reasons ought TO have the
Dinding force of law. mot expedient."
And so, being Improbable and iniur-
lous, may thereby become unlawful.
"Edify not" All things do not tend
to build up the cause OF Christ and
therefore are not expedient. "a. His
own" Let no man consult his own
happiness. pleasure or convenience.
but let him ask what will be for the
good OF others. No rule Is laid down
about eating or not eating any kind OF
1000 as matter OF Importance in it.
sell. With such things the gospel has
no concern. What Paul does prescribe
relates to the effect of our conduct upon
others. Let every man live not for
hlnlselt, Dut for every part of the great
human FAMILY with which he is sur.
rounded. "Another's wealth." "But
each his nnfOhhnr'c oooJ u rrAs-
Will cause true happiness.
III. The duty OF guarding the weak
Tvs. 25-30). %. "Is sold" The meats
OF idol sacrifices were often exposed to
sale in the markets especially by the
priests, when they had on hand a sur
plus. To the Christian this was as
lawtul as any other meat. "Sham-
Dles.' The meat stalls in the market.
Asking no question" The Jews were
vexed with innumerable scruples with
respect to their eating and were accus-
toned to ask many questions about
their food. as to where 1t was obtained.
how prepared, etc.; all of these scruples
and questionings the gospel abolished.
70. Earth is the Lords" See Psa.
z4I. This meat belongs to the Lord
and is made for mans use 1t does not
belong to the idol, even though it has
been offered to it. 1t may therefore be
partaken OF as Gods gift. 81 Bid
feast" This refers to a feast in a pri-
vate house. In verses 14-22 the apostle
severely rebukes the practice of eating
at feasts in heather temples. because
tnls was one part of idolatrous wor-
ship. If pagan friend invite Chris
tian to his home to dine he should eat
what is set before him without vexing
his host with questions about his food.
But there is nothing here commanded
which would require a person to eat or
drink that which is harmful.
2S. Say unto you" That is, If one
OF your fellow guests should display
scruples of conscience, or heather
should be likely to draw the inference
that you approved of idol worship, this
altogether alters the case. You are no
longer simply eating with thankfulness
the food set before you as the gift OF
God. but the question of idolatrous
worship Of idols as permissible to a
Christian. 20. For why" etc. This
verse and the next as a little obscure.
The meaning seems to be that mo man
mas right TO interfere with the liberty
enjoyed by another, save so far as his
own conscience and conscientious con-
victions are likely TO be affected there
by" We must guard the point of
yielding to another's conscience. for
we may by obeying a mans false con-
science confirm his self-conceit, or es-
tablish false morality. 30. "If l by
grace" IF 1 partake with thankful
ness."-R. V.
Ill. The correct rule Of conduct Tvs.
S1-33).
81. Eat. or drink The glory of
God is to be the end Of all our actions.
In themselves eating and drinking are
things Indifferent, but there are cir
cumstances in which they may be mat
ters of the highest importance. In Que
own day, for instance, the question OF
using or abstaining from Intoxicating
liquors is one which ought to be dealt
with on the same principles which Paul
has laid down in this chapter. Such a
question should be decided on one
ground alone, namely whether by us
ing them or abstaining from them we
shall best promote the glory of God.
. do all This requires that we should
plan and order our whole life in ac-
cordance with Gods law. "Glory OF
God" TO live to Gods glory should be
the high aim of every individual. This
is sufficient rule to regulate every
mans conscience and practice.
80. "Give none offense." See r. Y.
Though you may be no better or worse
for eating meat or not eating, yet if
your conduct Injuries others and leads
them into sin you should abstain en-
tirely. 1t is far more important that
your brother should not be led into sin
than that you should partake of meat
which you acknowledge is in itself of
no Importance. This is general prin-
ciple which should regulate Christian
conduct at all time. Jews" The
apostle ever avoided offense to his
kinsmen after the flesh. "Gentiles."
Crossing none OF theirprejudices where
Gods law does not require it,
33. "Please all men," He did this
so far as he could righteously. May
be saved" His main object was to
seek the salvation of all men. This
was the end in view. Salvation ena-
bes men to set aside their own ways
I'm order to upllft another. Strife over
non-essentials destroys rather than
builds up the work of God.
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