1 Corinthians 10:1-11
Verse 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Have you ever wished that you could have learned a lesson without having to go through it yourself? That is what Paul wants to teach the people of Corinth in this letter. He is hoping that by showing them the lessons that the people wandering in the wilderness with Moses learned, that they will skip the same mistakes.
We talked yesterday about one of the situations that they had gotten themselves into in the wilderness that we could all learn lessons from. We aren’t to seek after physical pleasure in a way that doesn’t match God’s will for us. Nor are we to look for other gods. Paul shows how serious God is about doing these things by pointing out that God killed these people for violating His commands. Now we aren’t saying that disobeying God will bring you sudden death, since Christ came to earth God doesn’t seem to use this form of punishment in the same way He did in the time of Moses. But that doesn’t mean that disobedience doesn’t mess with our relationship with God and with other believers.
Look at what Paul said was the reason for these things happening. “As a warning for us.” What are we supposed to do with a warning? Heed it, right? Paul speaks specifically to fact that we are not to crave the evil things that they did or worship idols as some of them did. Did you notice the word ‘some’ in that last sentence? This wasn’t a whole nation that was rebelling against God. There were some that were living for God among the sin flourishing around them. Those were the true worshipers of God. Can you imagine how alone these people must have felt? God killed 23,000 in one day for their sins! If He killed that many you know that the majority of the people were wavering in their devotion to God. And this is where the warning comes in, we are to be warned about the choices we make, including those we spend our time with. Proverbs 13:20 reminds us of the wisdom of choosing friends when it says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Our worship can be influenced by who we are close friends with. Who or what are your friends worshiping?
Making It Personal
Do you have friends that draw you into a deeper relationship with God? How about friends that draw you away from Him? Do you have some choices to make about who you are closest to?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you ever tried to be close friends with two people who don’t like each other? It doesn’t work very well does it? That is because sometimes you have to choose to be with one instead of the other and feelings get hurt, don’t they? Did you know that you can’t be good friends with God and friends with other gods too?
Closing Prayer
Father, we are sorry for the times we have not chosen You over ourselves and our desires. Father, You alone deserve our worship and we want to change to be who You desire us to be. Strengthen us to be wholly devoted to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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