the meat market

God has given us all things to enjoy. I know that it's easy to go looking for problems. Even when things are better than they have ever been, we still go and look for problems.

We simply shouldn't ask questions.

Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go in, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. (1 Corinthians 10:25-27)

In the summer of both 2017 and 2018, I had the opportunity to travel to China for a mission trip with Athletes in Action. Oftentimes, as we traveled from city to city, or village to village, we would be invited into these local restaurants. Each restaurant we attended was the restaurant in town that served the best local food. It was recommended that we ate whatever food was served as a sign of respect to the Chinese people who served us and prepared the food. We were simply told not to ask questions, because everything that in front of us was good. 

I believe that is the perfect example of the scripture above. Sure, I know I probably ate things I would never think about eating, but all was good because that is what we believed. We didn't ask questions. We ate and showed tremendous respect. 

Paul gives an answer to the delema as well. Paul urges us to buy whatever meat is sold at the market without asking whether it was offered to idols. It doesn't matter anyway, and no one's conscience would be troubled. When we become too worried about our every action, we become legalistic and cannot enjoy life. 

Everything belongs to God, and he has given us all things to enjoy. If we know something is a problem, then we can deal with it, but we don't need to go looking for problems. 

As we begin another week, let us attack it with that mindset. Everything belongs to God, and he has given us all things to enjoy.