Christians should be concerned about the interests of others, not merely their own.
Les Feldick teaches from 1 Corinthians that being free from the law does not make a believer free to do whatever pleases them. A believer must weigh whether an action is expedient and edifying for others, not just whether it is lawful.
1 Corinthians 10:23 — This verse establishes the principle that lawful things are not automatically expedient or edifying, requiring believers to look beyond their own liberty.
1 Corinthians 10:32 — Paul directly tells believers to give no offense to anyone, which is a concrete way of prioritizing others' welfare.
Scripture repeatedly points believers away from self-centered living. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 Paul says, 'All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.' He recognizes that what is lawful may not be the best thing for another person. In the same context, Paul writes, 'Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God' (1 Corinthians 10:32). Galatians 6:2 adds, 'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' And Philippians 4:6 tells believers, 'Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.'
Les Feldick stresses that being under grace is not a license to live however we choose. Even though no system of law rests on the believer, Paul says that not all things are expedient or edifying (1 Corinthians 10:23; [Clip 0]). For Les, this is a daily discipline: the believer considers his neighbor's attitude and whether a lawful action might prevent that person from coming to faith ([Clip 3]). He also points to Paul's instruction to give no offense to anyone—Jew, Gentile, or the church—because their conduct communicates something to the watching world ([Clip 4], [Clip 1]). And while believers are told not to be anxious about their own affairs, they can and should have genuine concern for others; Paul tells them to bring their requests to God in prayer ([Clip 5]). In the fellowship of believers, this concern is practical: restore a fallen brother in meekness and bear one another's burdens ([Clip 6], [Clip 7]).
Les Feldick says no. Paul is no longer under the law, but he is not free to do as he pleases. 'Grace is not license.' Paul can do all things lawfully, but not all things are expedient, and not all things edify (1 Corinthians 10:23). So the believer's freedom is weighed by how a choice builds up others.
Les explains that believers live with their conduct on display. The world should be able to tell a Christian when it sees one ([Clip 1]). In Corinth, believers were surrounded by immorality and idolatry, and their conduct communicated something to everyone. So Paul tells them to give no offense to Jews, Gentiles, or the church. Believers should consider their neighbor's attitude, lest their actions cause that person to reject the gospel.
Paul tells believers in Philippians 4:6 to 'be careful for nothing'—meaning do not be anxious or worry. Les notes that this does not forbid proper concern. On the contrary, believers can bring their requests to God in prayer and still carry a genuine concern for others. The Bible distinguishes anxious worry from caring concern.
Les points to 1 Corinthians 6:1—believers should not drag fellow believers before secular courts. Instead, when a brother or sister falls, they should be restored in a spirit of meekness, remembering that no one is immune to temptation. Then Galatians 6:2 says to bear one another's burdens. Les calls this 'the whole idea of good Christian fellowship.'
Grace Is Not License
Les explains that Paul, though no longer under law, still does not do whatever pleases him. All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient or edifying, so believers must consider what builds up others.
Christians Are to Be Different
Les says the world should be able to tell a Christian when it sees one. Believers live in the world but are not of it, so their conduct is on display.
Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean
So let's just go back up to all about verse 5, because I don't like to just jump in on a verse. I like to pick up the flow. So we'll read from verse 5 and then pick up the commenting on it in about verse 10. For they who are after the flesh... Now remember Paul always writes to the believer. Paul never writes to the unbelieving world.
Consider Your Neighbor's Attitude
Les says believers have liberty, but they must take into account their neighbor's attitude lest their conduct cause someone never to become a believer.
Do All to God's Glory, Offend No One
Les applies 1 Corinthians 10:31-32 to daily living: whatever believers do should be for God's glory, and they must give no offense to Jews, Gentiles, or the church.
Concern Without Anxiety
Les explains that being careful for nothing means 'worry about nothing,' but believers may still have proper concern. God invites them to make their requests known to Him.
Disputes Among Believers
Les observes that even born-again believers can be plagued with problems. Paul's instruction prohibits believers from suing one another before the unjust.
Bear One Another's Burdens
Les says believers should go to a fallen brother in meekness, realizing they too could be tempted, and then help carry that person's burdens—the heart of Christian fellowship.
1 Corinthians 10:23: All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Paul sets the standard for Christian freedom: lawful actions must also be expedient and edifying.
1 Corinthians 10:32: Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Paul calls believers to avoid conducting themselves in ways that offend or stumble others.
Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
This verse directly commands believers to help carry the weight of others' struggles.
Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
This verse turns anxiety into prayer, allowing believers to have concern without being overwhelmed.
1 Corinthians 6:19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Les cites this to show that believers' lives are not their own; they are set apart for God.
Les Feldick explains that Paul, though no longer under the law, was still not free to do whatever he pleased. Grace removes the law as a system of rules, but not all lawful things are beneficial. A believer's liberty is always to be weighed by how it affects others and whether it edifies.
Paul tells believers to 'be careful for nothing'—that is, not to be anxious or worried. Les says believers can have concern for others, but they are to turn their requests over to God in prayer. Trusting God with needs is not the same as being unconcerned.
Les points to 1 Corinthians 10:23—not all things edify. Consider your neighbor's attitude and whether your action might keep him from the faith. Paul also says to give no offense to anyone and to do everything for God's glory.
Because Scripture commands it. Galatians 6:2 says to bear one another's burdens. Les teaches that good Christian fellowship involves encouraging believers who are struggling, restoring them in meekness, and helping them overcome weaknesses.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Lord's Table — 1 Corinthians 10:16