“‘Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying. No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.’ vs23-24

Paul sets forth the principle that we’re to seek the good of other people. This is love, and it is the essence of what faith produces.

First, Paul knows that an idol is nothing, but he doesn’t want us participating in idolatry. Vs19-21, “Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.”

What we eat and drink doesn’t matter, but if it’s offered to the Devil, then don’t participate. Something spiritual is being represented, so don’t be a part of it.

Vs14-18, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak to reasonable people; judge for yourselves what I say. Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf. Consider the people of Israel: Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?”

We have to choose Who we’ll worship, and we must worship God the right way, which is by faith and sincerity of heart. It is not enough to have knowledge. We must have love that joins us to Christ in a God honoring way.

Secondly, love is the fruit of the Spirit, and this is what faith produces. Love doesn’t seek its own; it isn’t interested in self glory, even as Paul lived to save others.

No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.’

Christ’s love came down for you and sacrificed Himself on the cross. Love included us in salvation’s plan and called us with power; it delivered us from sin, gave us the Spirit, and love will dwell with us forever. It is God’s unfathomable love to give us Christ: it demonstrates itself by what it accomplishes [1 John 4:10].

Even so, God’s love in you through the Spirit, makes us live to save others. We put their benefit before our own. We are selfless, and in this we find life, because the way up is down, and the greatest is the servant of all [Matt 20:20-28].

Thirdly, love is to be practiced by all: not indifference and idolatry but calculated service to advance the kingdom. “No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

Let love motivate you, and you are well guided. It will do good and reap a reward. Love is better than denying my neighbor hot pursuit. Love overlooks offences, reconciles, and repents. Love is a better barometer for dealing with people than anything else: not what does he deserve, but what should I do?

Look upon Christ, and go do likewise; it will change us.