The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-22
THE. SUNDAY SGH00l
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENT,
FOR NOVEMBER rs.

-SoAAh1ohtaTy OA tho Lay . A<CssOhs
> In verses 1922 Paul resumes the did
cusSion from chapter S:13 touching tb
eating of meats which had been Offered
in sacrifice to idols. In the lesson I'D
fore Us we have come practical diPed
Hons on this subject.
I. The duty of living for others tvt
%. 24.
%. "All things are lawful" maj
lawfully eat all kinds of food, but III
are not %expedient. 1t would not be bd
coming ip me to eat Of all, because
should by this offend and grieve mani
weak minds. Though it may be al.
mitted that it fs strictly lawful to ed
meats offered to idols, yet there sr
strong reasons why it is inexpedien
and those reasons ought to have thI
binding force Of law. Not expedient.
And so, being improbable and inju3
ious, may thereby become unlawful
"Edify NOT" All things do not fen
to build up the cause OF Christ, an
therefore: are not. expedient. a. aHi
OWL" Let nc man consult his oW
happiness, pleasure or convenience
but let him ask what wilDbe for tai
good Of others. No rule is laid dow
about eating:.or not eating any kind d
food as a matter of Importance in i
sell. With such things the gospel hal
no concern. What Paul does prescribI
relates to the effect Of our conduct upoI
others. .Let-eEery Gaaa live not fo}
himself. but for every part Of the CRED
human family with which he is sui
rounded. "Another's wealth." "Bu}
each his neighbours good."-R. v. Th1
will cause true happiness.
II. The duty of guarding thetweal
Tvs. $500. %. us sold" The meat
Of idol sacrifices were often exposed
sale in the markets especially by thI
priests, when they had on hand a sun
plus. To the Christian this was d
lawful as any other meat. nShan}
bles" The meat stalls in the market
Asking no question" The Jews wer
vexed With ~innunerable scruples witt
respect to their eating and were accua
toned to ask many questions abou&
their food. ag to where it was obtained
how prepared, etc.; all OF these scruplei
and questionipgS the gospel abolished
90. Earth is the Lords See Psa
24:1. This meat belongs to the Lori
and is made for mans use. 1t does nc
belong to the idol. even though it ha
been offered to it. 1t may therefore IL
paStaken of as Gods gift. q. @Bid1
feast" This. refers to a feast in a pr
vate house. Insverses 1922 the apostlI
Severely rebukes the practice OF eatinI
at feasts in heather temples, becaus
this vas one part Of ~idOlatrouS vol
ship. fla pagan friend invite al Chris
tan to his home to- dine he should ea3
what is set before him without yexin
his host with questions about his food
But there is nothing here commando
which would require q person to eat d
drink that which,is harmful.
Is. "Say unto you" That is, il on
Of your fellow guests should displa
scruples of conscience, or a heatbe
should be likely to draw the inferenc
that you approved Of idol worship, thiI
altogether alters the case. You r 2
longer simply eating with th~ankfulnes
the food set before y0u as the gift q
God, but the question Of idolatFOu1
worship Of idols as permissible stoS
Christian. 20. "For why" etc. Thj
verse and the next as 8, little obscure
The meaning seems to be that "nO mai
has q right to interfere with the libert
enjoyed by another, save so far as hi
own conscience and conscientious con
victions are likely to be affected there
by" We must. guard the point o
yielding to another's conscience, 90
we may by obeying q mans false cor
science confirm his self-conceit, or ed
tablish q false morality. 80. "IfI b1
grace" IF / partake with thankful
ress."-R. V.
III. The correct rule OF. conduct {ra
81. "Eat, or drink" The glory
God is to be the>end Of all our actions
In themselves eating and drinking ar
things Indifferent, but there are cir
cumstances in which they may be mai
tiers OF the highest Importance. In ou|
own. day, for instance. the question Q
using OF abstalnipg from intoxicaHn
liquors is one which ought to be deal
with on the same principles which Pau
has laid down in this chapter. Such
question should be decided on On
ground alone. namely, whether py us
ing them or a%bstainirg from them W
shall best promote the glory OF God
rDo ALL" This requires that we shoul
blan and order our whole life in az
Cordance with Gods law. GLORY o
God" 10 live to Gods glory shouldb
the high aim of every individual. Thl
Is a sufficient rule to regulate ever
mans conscience and practice.
SO. "GiYe none %offense." See r.
Though you may be no Better or aWors
for eating meat or not eating, yet
your conduct Injuries others and lead
them into sin you should abstain eI
tirely. It is far more important tha
your brother should not be led into 81
than that you should partalie of mea
which you acknowledge is in itself q
no Importance. This is a general priI
ciple which should regulate, Christia
conduct at all time. Jews" Th
APOSTLE ever avoided offense to ny
kinsmen after the flesh. "Gendles-
Crossing none of theIrprejudices wher
Gods law does not require it.
333. "Piease all men," He did th7
so far as he could ~rightcously. MA
he saved" His main object was
seek the salvation Of all men. iii
was the end in view. Salvation END
bles men to set aside their own way
in order to uplift another. Strife owe
ron-essentials destroys rather TIM
builds Up the work Of God.
Japan's purchases from the Unite
States III the fiscal year just close