|
Do We Make God Jealous? |
|
Do We Make God Jealous? |
|
Most of the time when we think of jealously we think of it in a negative connotation. We think of it in terms as W.L. Watkinson defined: "that of a morbid sensitiveness lest we be deprived of something to which we suppose ourselves entitled, a painful solicitude lest we be outdone by the genius, beauty, or fortune of another." 1 When Dr. F.B. Meyer first started preaching at D.L. Moody's Northfield Conferences, he attracted great crowds. People thronged to hear him preach. At a later time Dr. G. Campbell Morgan began coming to Northfield and the people were lured by his Bible studies and deserted Meyer. Meyer confessed that he became jealous. He told someone, "The only way I could conquer my feelings was to pray for him daily, which I did." We often think of jealously as that Meyer experienced. We think of that which Proverbs 14:30 describes as "rottenness of the bones." Yet, oftentimes in the Bible we are told that God is a jealous God. We read in Exodus 34:14, "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." We also read in Deuteronomy 4:24, "For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." Does this seem to indicate that there is some flaw in the person and nature of God? Let's look at the passage before us and consider the context of Paul's statement in verse 22 when he asked, "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?" The issue behind his statement involves the matter of fellowship. Notice the passage and consider with me three things concerning fellowship that Paul addresses. First, we see:
1. A FELLOWSHIP THAT IS
INSPIRATIONAL In verse 16 we find the word "communion" used twice. The word speaks of something one has in common with another. It describes a partnership and fellowship that is enjoyed. I once heard someone say that fellowship is two fellows in the same ship. That's a good definition for it describes two people sharing something in common. In verses 16-18 Paul describes two types of fellowship that believers enjoy and experience. Notice the words "which we bless" in verse 16. The word "bless" speaks of a "good word." This fellowship we enjoy is one that brings out of us a good word. It produces praise and rejoicing on our part and a word of thanksgiving. It is a fellowship that is inspirational. Now notice the two types of fellowship Paul describes. First, there is: A. A Fellowship With The Saviour We read in verse 16, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" Paul uses the taking of the Lord's Supper to demonstrate the fellowship we have with the Lord Jesus Christ. He speaks of the two symbols of the Lord's Supper and what they mean and represent. First there is the symbol of the blood of Christ, which is called the "cup of blessing." Paul tells us that this cup symbolizes "the communion of the blood of Christ." Whenever the Lord's Supper is observed and we take of the wine it is symbolic of the blood Jesus shed that we might have forgiveness of sin. Then, there is the symbol of the body of Christ, which is "The bread which we break." Paul speaks of the bread as symbolic of "the communion of the body of Christ." As well, when we take of the Lord's Supper, the bread represents God becoming man and taking upon Himself a body of flesh. Paul tells us that God becoming man and dying on the cross and shedding His blood has brought us brought into fellowship with Christ. I remind you that the observance of the Lord's Supper is more than taking symbols. It is a celebration of a wonderful relationship we have with God through Christ. We have fellowship with God. In I Corinthians 1:9 Paul declared that we have been "called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." It is a fellowship we enjoy and experience because of what Jesus has done for us. Secondly, we see: B. A Fellowship With The Saints We read in verse 17, "For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." We have not only been brought into a wonderful relationship with Christ but with other Christians. We are individuals "being many" but we are one in Christ as "one bread and one body." There is diversity among believers but there is unity. We share a relationship one with another because of our relationship with Christ. Paul illustrates this point in verse 18. "Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" He pointed back to the sacrifices offered in the Old Testament. When a sacrifice was brought the sacrifice was shared. A portion of it was burnt on the altar, a portion was eaten by the priests, and a portion eaten by those who offered it. There was a sharing, a fellowship, a communion involved. As believers we share a relationship one with another. We have fellowship and communion with Christ and with one another. Because of the fellowship we have with the Saviour and with the saints "we bless." We give thanks and rejoice. Such fellowship blesses our hearts, stirs our souls, and elicits praise. In 1765 John Fawcett was called to pastor a very small congregation at Wainsgate, England. He labored there diligently for seven years, but his salary was so meager that he and his wife could scarcely obtain the necessities of life. Though the people were poor, they compensated for this lack by their faithfulness and warm fellowship. Then Dr. Fawcett received a call from a much larger church in London, and after lengthy consideration decided to accept the invitation. As his few possessions were being placed in a wagon for moving, many of his parishioners came to say good-bye. Once again they pleaded with him to reconsider. Touched by this great outpouring of love, he and his wife began to weep. Finally Mrs. Fawcett exclaimed, "O John, I just can't bear this. They need us so badly here." "God has spoken to my heart, too!" he said. "Tell them to unload the wagon! We cannot break these wonderful ties of fellowship." This experience inspired Fawcett to write the hymn. "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love! The fellowship of kindred mind is like to that above." As believers we enjoy a fellowship with God and that brings into a fellowship with other believers. It is a fellowship of kindred minds. It is a fellowship that we bless. Secondly, we see:
2. A FELLOWSHIP THAT IS IMPROPER
In verses 19-20 he speaks of an improper fellowship. In the latter part of verse 20, Paul speaks of "fellowship with devils." Paul specifically addresses the matter of idolatry and how idolatry is an improper fellowship in the life of a believer. First, let me say a word about: A. The Fact About Idols Notice verse 19, "What say I then? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?" When Paul asked if an idol was anything, he was insinuating that in itself an idol was nothing. In reality it was nothing more than a man made object. Sacrifices that were made to such idols had no spiritual value or benefit because they were in themselves nothing. Apparently there were those in the church that were once again worshipping idols and false gods. They were mixing a part of their old life with their new life. Paul wants them to know that such idols were nothing more than wood, stone, marble and the result of man's making. Secondly, Paul speaks of: B. The Force Behind Idols Even though idols are lifeless and man made, Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to understand that there was a demonic force behind them. He says in verse 20, "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." Paul was saying that demons are the driving force behind man creating his own gods and idols. The idol itself has no spiritual power or nature but behind them is the work of Satan. Therefore when one presents a sacrifice to an idol they are in essence making a sacrifice to demons. When one participates in idolatry they are in actuality having fellowship with the work of demons. In our day and time, we as believers tend to think when we read about idols and idolatry that it has little to do with us. But the simple truth, idolatry is a big problem among believers. I doubt that you have little statutes or images in your home that you bow down to each day. But idolatry involves more than an image or statute. Leslie B. Flynn writes: "Idolatry may be external or internal. Multitudes in the western world who would never think of crassly bowing to gods of wood and stone (external idolatry), nevertheless give their allegiance to gods, just as lifeless and empty, which they set up in their hearts (internal idolatry). An idol is anything we put before God." 2 Dr. Andrew Blackwood, professor emeritus of Princeton Theological Seminary said: "In America today false gods abound. They call for perversion of things ideally good: self, money, pleasure, sex, romance, amusements, sports, education." 3 Idolatry is putting something before God. He is to be first in our lives and anything that comes before Him is idolatry. I John 5:21 says, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." John knew that believers would often put things before God and he encouraged us to guard ourselves from this happening. Behind all idolatry in our life is the work of Satan to get us to put other things before God. If he can't get us to leave God he will work to get us put something before God. When we do so, we are entering into fellowship, that is a partnership, with demons. That's a shuddering thought but it is true when we put other things before God. Lastly, notice with me:
3. A FELLOWSHIP THAT IS
IMPOSSIBLE In verses 21-22 we see God's response to verses 19-20. If there is an improper fellowship it results in an impossible fellowship. Notice first that there is: A. A Denial By The Lord We read in verse 21, "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." Twice we see the word "cannot." The emphasis tells us that there is something that is impossible. There cannot be a dual fellowship. There cannot be fellowship with the Lord and fellowship with that which is demonic. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." In the case of the Corinthians, there were some that were worshipping the God and other gods. God tells them this is impossible. You cannot have fellowship with demons and God at the same time. Notice the word "partake" in verse 21. The word means, "to have something with another." If we are having anything in common with this world, the flesh, and the devil, then fellowship with God is impossible. As believers we need to listen carefully to what God is telling us. We cannot have two masters in our life. We cannot have fellowship with God if we have other gods (idols) in our life. If there is going to be fellowship with God, then He must be first and foremost in our life. If I may put it this way, you can't let other things be first in your life Monday through Saturday and then expect to have fellowship with God on Sunday. There is no middle ground here. There is no gray area. We cannot have fellowship with God and devils at the same time. Also, there is: B. The Displeasing Of The Lord Notice verse 22, "Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?" As I shared with you at the beginning, the Bible often states that the Lord is a jealous God. The ideal of the Lord being jealous is what a husband or wife would feel if their mate was being unfaithful. The Lord wants to be the first in our life. He wants our complete devotion. He does not want to share that devotion with any other "god." He wants us to be faithful to Him! James 4:4 says, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." When we get saved we invite the Lord Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour. But lets say Satan gets his foot in the door and we began to have affairs with this world. We commit spiritual adultery. We have been brought into a relationship with God but are having a relationship with the world. The question is asked in the latter part of verse 22, "are we stronger than he?" Paul is telling us that to make God jealous is a potentially a hazardous circumstance. If we think we can stand against God then we are foolish. Paul is warning us that God is not One that you want to provoke!
Here is the great question before us. Are we being unfaithful to God? Are we
making Him jealous because we trying to serve two masters? |
