Bible Reading Blog
“Learn and Live”
Categories: Congregational Bible ReadingBIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 10
“Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” (1 Corinthians 10.6)
We learn a great deal from life experience. Through good and bad choices, we learn about consequences and rewards. Conventional wisdom tells us this is just how life goes. “You live and you learn.”
In many ways this was the story of Israel. God told them not to pursue other gods, trust in kings or mix with the nations… but they didn’t like being told what to do. They wanted to be like the other nations; they thought things were better doing it another way. Through life experience they learned some things, and most of it was not good (1 Corinthians 10.5, 9-10).
Personal experience can be a good teacher; but notice the admonition we are given by Paul: don’t be like them (1 Corinthians 10.7). Why? Because we should learn from their poor choices and not repeat them (1 Corinthians 10.6). That seems almost too obvious. If someone has been down this path before, why would we ignore their experience?
And yet, how many times has history repeated itself? How many times have you ignored experience and wisdom to learn it for yourself?This is foolishness, but Paul alludes to why we behave this way: we think we know better (1 Corinthians 10.12), and we think our situation is unique (1 Corinthians 10.13).
I recognize there are times when we will learn things by experience, but biblical wisdom teaches this should not be our paradigm. The attitude that says “I have to learn things on my own” is arrogant and prideful. It not only assumes it knows better, but it rejects the warnings of scripture. God has intentionally preserved examples for us through His Word so that we would not make the same foolish choices as people in the past (Romans 15.4; 1 Corinthians 10.11).
God’s word screams for us to listen (Proverbs 1.20) but naturally, our way seems right to us (Proverbs 14.12). As we mature in faith, we must fight the urge to trust our own experience and fully rely on the wisdom that has been revealed from God. The stories preserved in scripture teach us there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1.9). And so, we cannot be ignorant or content to simply live and learn (2 Corinthians 2.11). Instead, let’s humbly take instruction from the past so that we learn… and we live.
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days…” (Deuteronomy 30.19-20a)
“Do not be idolaters as some of them were… These things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.” (1 Corinthians 10.7, 11)
