The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 342

Ver, 33.-Benevolence. Paul recommended to the Corinthians that course of conduct which he followed himself. As a religious teacher, he practised what he taught. And the lessons of his lips and of his pen were enforced with a tenfold power by the actions of his lifo. In nothing was this more observable anrl undeniable than in his devotion to the welfare of others, and his habit of adapting himself to all men, in order that he might win some for Christ. I. THE CONDUCT ABJURED, Paul sought not his own profit; and he dissuades Christians generally from doing so. By this we are to understand that our own profit is not to be the one ruling principle of our life. Certainly it is not wrong to seek our own spiritual welfare and eternal salvation ; for this we are responsible, to this we are called. But having found Christ ourselves, we are not to make our personal advantage our one and only concern. They who seek such an end always fail; none are more stunted in spiritual growth than those whose only thought is how they may obtain abundant nourishment for themselves. Christians must be prepared to sacrifice religions advantages and enjoyments, when such a sacrifice is demanded in the interests of their fellow-men. II. THE BULE ADOPTED, Paul's rule, which he commends to us, was to "please all men." 'l'his might easily be misunderstood, for nothing is baser than a habit of pandering to the passions and courting the favour and humouring the prejudices of all we meet with. But there is a pliancy and adaptation of character and demeanour, which flows from and expresses sympathy, and which is a sure road to most men's hearts. It is no degradation to condescend to lhe simple and illiterate, to enter into the thoughts and pursuits of the scholarly, to talk the languages of the foreigner, to share the ways and the life of any man, in innocence and without duplicity. It was by this habit, carried to excess, that the Jesuits gained their hold upon indil"idual natures and upon general society. Aad it is by this habit, rather than by great powers of thought or of speech, that successful servants of Christ usually achieve their success. Ill. THE AIM SOUGHT. I. It respects "the many." This is just like the large heart of Paul, who in this was a trne follower of Christ himself. The Lord's purpose is to draw "all men" unto himself; his prediction, that "many" shall come and sit down in his kingdom; and his commission: "Preach the gospel to every creature." He gave bis life a ransom "for many;" his blooo. was shed for ''many;" he bare the sins of" many." 2. It is their immediate" protit" or advantage. What he concerned himself not about, as far as be himself was concerned, he anxiously sought for others. 3. '!'be final aim is tho salvatiou of mankind; 11 purpose and hope which may well justify, and indeed all but compel, self-denial nnd effort; for salvation includes all blessings of which human nature is capable, and the prolongation, tho perpetuation, of those blessings throughout a glorious eternity.-'!'. Vars. 1-12.-0ld Testament pictures. Painted from life. Painted for our inspection and instruction. Painted by the genius of inspiration. J. A PICTURE OF PRIVILEGE. '!'he privileges of the Israelites were, like our own, multifarious. J<'ive are here enumerated. 1. The l~raelites were all "wider the cloud." They were thus signally proter,ted by God. lle was in the cloud; "The Lonl went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light "(Exod. xiii. 21). Divine protection is a great privilege. How safe we are if God keeps us! Of themselves, tho Israelites were peculiarly help- less and defenceless; but they were stronger than the strongest because Go,\ was with them. Our great ally is God. 2. 'J'hey all "passerl through the sea." Special deliverance was theirs. Menaced by fearful dar-~r. they were required merely to walli -34.6 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO '!'HE CORINTHIANS. [cu. x. 1-33,