J.O.Y.

(Others Edified)

I Corinthians 9:19-27

Last week we talked about J.O.Y. Three letters denoting three principles in our Christian life. It is the Advent season. We are waiting with anticipation for the coming our Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, it is time to examine our lives.

Last Sunday we thought about J (Is Jesus is glorified in your life?)

This Sunday I will talk about O (Others must be edified), and Y (You must be sanctified). In the Armenian message, let us take O: Others must be edified.

You see this is determination. This is commitment. This is not just an emotional understanding of Christianity. It is serious steps in living for Christ.

In Chapter 8 Paul speaks about the meat that was used as sacrifice for idols.

There were some Christians who came from a pagan background, who used to worship gods in those temples. Now that they found a new life in Christ, they didn’t want anything to do with that old life.

I knew a friend who was a heavy alcoholic. After his conversion to the Christian faith, he did not want anything to do with alcohol. He did not drink. He did not sit anywhere where alcohol was served.

There were also people in Corinth who did not know much about these idol sacrifices. All they cared for was cheap meat and delicious food. The sacrifices were so many, that the temple people sold the meat in a low price. So, for many it was just a convenience to buy this kind of meat.

Paul says to the Corinthians that he knows and some of them know that eating this meat does not have any effect on their faith. However, for some of them, who do not have enough knowledge, it may create a big problem. We know that there is “no God but One God” (8:4) “We have one Lord, Jesus Christ”(8:6) and that sacrifices for false gods are meaningless. Thus, do not be worried about these meats. But you are not alone. Some will be offended, therefore consider what your freedom is doing to your brother and sister.

Be sensitive towards your weak brother or sister.

Look after one another; this is an example of edification. You see this is a serious thing. It is not just offending someone; it is more than that. Paul said, “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.” (8:12)

Therefore, “though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone.” (9:19) Why? He wants to edify his brothers and sisters. With the weak he became weak, with the strong he became strong. He wants to win them to Christ.

So Paul is saying, It is great to see Christ being glorified in your life. But watch out, while you have knowledge, while you are growing up, do not forget that you are alone. We live with Christ in a community. Therefore, everyone in your circle and even out of your circle is important.

We edify each other when we reach out for each other’s needs. Christians should extend their hand of help to those in need, as we recently did through Christmas Joy Packages to Armenia, Samaritan’s Purse, War Relief for Lebanon, and other projects. We edify each other when we build each other up spiritually. This happens when we pray for each other, counsel each other, share our Christian life experiences, testimonies and the like.

“‘Everything is permissible’- but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’- but not everything is constructive” (10:23).

Therefore, in this time of advent and end of the year ask yourself. Did I live a life of edification for others?

It is strange that we sometimes have the gift of tearing down instead of building up. I guess it is easier to tear down? It takes one dynamite to tear a building. But it takes months of work to build a building.

Watch out, and examine yourself; am I a builder or a destroyer?

What kind of words come from my mouth? Do they edify others?

We move in the English sermon to the third part of the JOY.