Chapters 8–10 deal with the church’s question
about meat offered to idols. This was a serious problem
to them, especially since the church was made up of both
Jews and Gentiles. The Jewish believers were very
careful to avoid any contact with heathen idolatry,
particularly in the area of eating meat that had been
slaughtered at the Temple. Sacrificial meat was sold at
a cheaper price, making it that much more attractive to
these poor Christians. The question that arose here was,
“Should a Christian participate in eating this meat, and
would eating such meat make him a lesser Christian?” We
do not face this same problem today, but the basic
situation is still with us: “Does a Christian, because
he is set free from the law, have the right to live any
way he pleases?” There are many practices and places
that we know from Scripture are definitely wrong, but
there are also many borderline problems about which even
dedicated Christians disagree. In these chapters, Paul
outlines the basic principles that should govern our
lives when it comes to questionable things. In chapter 8
he uses the example of Christ, and states that we must
be controlled by love so as not to cause others to
stumble. In chapter 9 Paul uses himself as an example,
pointing out that it is not necessary for Christians to
use their rights to be happy. They should rather yield
what they call their rights to God.
In chapter 10:12 Paul warns men that when they
are trusting in themselves and thinking they can stand
alone, to take heed lest they fall. Many times when
Christians decide they are going to act on their own,
without the leading of the Holy Spirit, they find
themselves in a bad situation. Never let the devil
convince you that you can operate under your own
strength. We must trust in Christ and depend on Him to
give us the strength in our daily lives.
Finally, in verse 13 Paul tells us that “God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” When
times of hardship and sorrow come, rely on this verse as
God’s promise to you.