You Decide
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 NLT
14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 New International Version (NIV)
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 English Standard Version (ESV)
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 Common English Bible (CEB)
14 So then, my dear friends, run away from the worship of false gods! 15 I’m talking to you like you are sensible people. Think about what I’m saying.
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
14 So, my dear friends, stay away from worshiping idols. 15 You are intelligent people. Judge for yourselves the truth of what I say now.
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
14 Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul]. 15 I am speaking as to wise and sensible people; judge [carefully and thoughtfully consider] for yourselves what I say.
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 King James Version (KJV)
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 10:14-15 NLT
14 So,
In view of how God treated the Israelites, the Corinthians should learn from this. (Lessons from Israel’s Idolatry.)
my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
Exodus 34:14 (NLT)
14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.
Exodus 20:3 (NLT)
“You must not have any other god but me.
Jeremiah 25:6-11 (NLT)
6 Do not provoke my anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.’
7 “But you would not listen to me,” says the Lord. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. 8 And now the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Because you have not listened to me, 9 I will gather together all the armies of the north under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, whom I have appointed as my deputy. I will bring them all against this land and its people and against the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy you and make you an object of horror and contempt and a ruin forever. 10 I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your millstones will fall silent, and the lights in your homes will go out. 11 This entire land will become a desolate wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
- You must not have any other god but the one true God.
Even if we are not bowing down to physical images of false gods, idolatry is still an issue today.
Now our idols are things like pride, money, popularity, hobbies, careers, fame, status, education, houses, cars, and the like.
Some of these things may in themselves not be bad. We need money in order to live; caring for our bodies is appropriate; God is a giver of good gifts, and we can take delight in the hobbies He has given us.
However, when we begin to value something above God, to expect that thing to provide us with ultimate satisfaction, we have begun making it into an idol.
Anything that comes between us and God is an idol.
God alone is sufficient for all our needs. The other things are gifts, not gods.
Principle:
Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
- Anything that we value more than God (knowingly or subconsciously) is an idol.
15 You are reasonable people.
Sensible people
Intelligent people
Wise men
Credentials from chapter one.
How does the Bible describe the Corinthians?
1 Corinthians 1:7 NLT
2 I am writing to
God’s church in Corinth,
to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people.
He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, …
7 Now
you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- You are reasonable people.
- God equipped the Corinthians with the ability to make good decisions.
Can we be described as reasonable people?
- God equips us with the ability to make good decisions.
2 Peter 1:1-3 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. (Christians) This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.
2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
James 1:5 (NLT)
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)
21 Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
Jeremiah 33:3 (NLT)
3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
Psalm 25:12 (NLT)
12 Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Psalm 119:105 (NLT)
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
Psalm 19:8 (NLT)
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
John 16:13 (NLT)
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.
Yes, because of all that God has done for us, we can be described as reasonable people.
Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.
Judge for yourselves.
Carefully and thoughtfully consider for yourselves.
Study
Acts 17:11 (NLT)
11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Psalm 119:9-16 (NLT)
9 How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.
Act on what you know to be true.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NLT)
19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
- Decide for yourself.
- Take ownership of the truths in scripture that God is showing to you.
