Oftentimes, we study history so as to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself. And this too is Paul’s advice for both the Corinthians and us (1 Cor 10:11).

Flee Idolatry

In chapter 10, he advises us to look at the example of the Israelites during their Exodus journey. They were deemed as God’s people and given ample spiritual nourishment (1 Cor 10:1-3). Yet, despite doing all this, they incurred God’s wrath. Consequently, all except a small remnant died in the wilderness, unable to enter into God’s promised rest (1 Cor 10:5; Ps 95:10-11).

What had they done to face such a harsh punishment from God?

They committed idolatry. Often.

From physically worshipping carved images and statues to mentally worshipping themselves by prioritising their wants over God’s commandments, the Israelites repeatedly committed idolatry and did not hold the LORD as the one and only God in their lives (1 Cor 10:6-10,14).

This is a warning for us as well.

We who have partaken of the sacraments now are a part of Christ’s body (1 Cor 10:16-17). The Bible makes it clear that we cannot be part of Christ and also part of the world (1 Cor 10:21; Matt 6:24; James 4:4).

Prioritising the world over God will only provoke God to jealousy just as how a husband will be jealous if his wife grows to prioritise another man over him (1 Cor 10:22).

In this day and age, idol worship doesn’t stir up ideas of kowtowing before statues and while offering up delicately prepared sacrifices to a deity. Instead, idol worship is largely associated with the celebrities part of the global pop-culture movement.

But despite the shift away from the traditional notions of idol worship, the God’s commandment still stands– we shall have no other gods before Him (Exo 20:3). It is the first and most fundamental commandment God gave.

To have no other gods before Him means that God should be the number 1 in our life. Very often, we unknowingly set up other gods in our heart. These can be pop stars we see on the internet, our career progression and resume, and even our own wants and desires.

Purging our hearts of these idols can be difficult because we idolise things we find joy and inspiration in. But let us turn to God in prayer, asking Him to help clean our hearts of this sin (Psa 51:10).

Seek to Glorify God in All Things

Pushing it a step further, Paul encourages us to go beyond merely fleeing and he gives us a direction to strive towards.

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). And how this is encapsulated in verse 23 to 24:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being (1 Cor 10:23-24).

Striving to glorify God in all that we do involves thinking of how to avoid causing offense to those around us and instead benefit them (1 Cor 10:32-33).

For example, it just so happens that on the 25th of December I’m in an extremely appreciative mood and thus decide to give presents to my friends. Since I’m not doing it as part of a celebration of Christmas, I decide that it is lawful and carry on with my plans.

However, though my gift giving is not a celebration of Christmas, my actions can be easily misinterpreted by others as a form of participation in the festival. And resultantly, may cause offense or even stumble others in their faith. I could have simply chosen to give my gifts a few days after the Christmas festival.

Our faith is not an individual, isolated one between us and God alone. From the commandments God gave at Mount Sinai, we can see that God cares very much about the relationship between us and other people. God doesn’t just want us to love Him, but also to love and care for those around us just as much as we care for ourselves (Matt 26:35-40).

Through our love towards others, glory will be unto God (John 13:34-35).