In one of his letters to the church in Corinth, Paul writes, "I speak to a sensible people, judge for yourselves what I say." (1 Corinthians 10:15) Paul makes it clear that to be sensible is being able to discern truth, think rightly, and make sound judgments. The problem was the people's lives he was writing to revealed that they had not been making sound judgments. That is why Paul went on to confront their lack in being sensible with regard to being a people who are participating in the body of Christ. (vs. 16-17) Lest we be too quick to point the finger at the Corinth church, we need to heed the message God gives us through Paul, for their lack of sensibility is often evident in us.
There are two main components to being sensible Christians found here (10:14-11:1). The first has to do with the "rights" of the Christian. Our ears perk up when we speak about someone's rights. We live in a society that is obsessed with personal rights. We are quick to claim our right to do whatever we want. Christians like to do the same. The slogan for Corinth church had become "everything is permissible." (v. 23) To put it in more colloquially, "I'm saved and I can do anything I want to." But this is not the way of sensible Christians. Sensible Christians realize that just because we can do something does not mean that we should do it. They understand that the Christian's "right" is to make Spirit-guided decisions about what is best for both their life in Christ and for their fellow Christian life. This passage emphatically points out that "not everything is beneficial... not everything is constructive... nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others." (vs. 23-24)
Being sensible people means that we are sensitive to the fact that our lives and actions affect both our own life in Christ and other's life in Christ. Sensible people take others into consideration when deciding how they live and what they do. Sensible people are Christians who make their decisions according to different criteria than "one's rights." Sensible Christians make the salvation and good of others, the individual and corporate building up of the body in holiness, (v. 33) and the glory of God (v. 31) the criteria for their actions, using Christ as their example. (11:1)
The second component in being sensible has to do with the results of Christian living. Sensible people understand that living the holy life by the power and enablement of the indwelling Holy Spirit, brings glory to God and sets an example for others to follow. The first part of this we rejoice in, but the second causes us to choke. We do not want people following our example. They are to keep their eyes on Jesus, not us! But let us not cease to be sensible here. The passage reminds us that how we live and what we do affects others. This clearly indicates that one way people keep their eyes on Jesus is by seeing Him in other Christians. We join with Paul is calling others to, "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ." (11:1) We may not be able to set a perfect example, but this is no excuse for ceasing to be one! Sensible Christians recognize that living Christ-like, living as participants in the body of Christ, results in an example for others to follow and brings glory to God!
Beloved, today's church - today's world - is desperate for "sensible people!" By the power of God's Spirit, let's be just that!
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry