An Old Testament Example
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
– 1 Corinthians 10:12
As we observe others in their walks with Christ, we often begin seeing reflections in our own lives. Sometimes, they are areas we do not want to see, areas in which the Holy Spirit wants to bring conviction and correction. And we find the Lord many times having to take us through lessons several times. This is why it is essential to take our time with the Scriptures and not just breeze through them. They review many of the same topics because we need to be taught and reminded. This is what I believe Paul to be doing in these chapters as he continues on the subject of our liberties in Christ.
Through these last few chapters, it seems as though the Apostle Paul is spending much time on the subject of Christian liberties. He has been writing to the Corinthians about their questions regarding our freedoms in Christ. The emphasis has been on self-denial and thinking of others first and self last. Our relationships are vital in this life, and loving one another is of utmost importance. If we say we love God but hate others, the Bible tells us we are liars (1 John 4:20).
We have examples in the Old Testament. This is why we cannot overlook the importance of teaching the Old Testament and the New Testament. We are to study the entire Bible from cover to cover. Here, the Apostle Paul uses their examples for our learning. The Nation of Israel was set free from the bondage of Egypt, and they were led into the wilderness for forty years. Yet they were disobedient and went through lesson after lesson. There was a continual lusting after evil things that the Lord did not want in their lives. Not just what we typically think is evil, like sexual immorality. Murmuring and complaining were also considered evil (1 Corinthians 10:6-11), and so was misrepresenting the Lord.
Moses and Aaron misrepresented God’s heart for the people (Numbers 20:10-12). As a result, they could not enter into the promised land and fulfill their original calling. They misrepresented God’s heart for His sheep. As people, we can be “short” or rude to others. It is easy to get frustrated with one another. Moses and Aaron were certainly frustrated with the people throughout their journey because of the consistent disobedience to God’s Word. Yet they did not look at their own failures and were guilty of being disobedient as well. This is why Paul here tells us to take heed to ourselves lest we accuse others of the very things we are doing ourselves. Let us not examine the lives of others without first examining our own lives (Matthew 7:2).
“The harlot, the liar, the murderer, are short of it; but so are you. Perhaps they stand at the bottom of a mine, and you on the crest of an Alp; but you are as little able to touch the stars as they.” Everyone falls short, but everyone can be justified freely by His grace." - (unknown)