Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Do everything to God’s glory

²³ “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds you up. ²⁴ Nobody should seek their own advantage, but the other person’s instead.

²⁵ Eat whatever is sold in the market without making any judgments on the basis of conscience. ²⁶ “The earth and its fullness,” after all, “belong to the Lord.” ²⁷ If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner, and you want to go, eat whatever is put in front of you without making any judgments on the basis of conscience. ²⁸ But if someone says “This was offered in sacrifice,” then don’t eat it—because of the person who told you about it, and because of conscience, ²⁹ by which I don’t mean your own conscience, but your neighbor’s. For why should my freedom be condemned by someone else’s conscience? ³⁰ If I eat my share gratefully, why should someone else speak evil of me because of something I’ve given thanks for?

³¹ So, then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything to God’s glory. ³² Be blameless before Jews and Greeks and the church of God, ³³ just as I try to please everybody in everything, not pursuing my own advantage, but that of the great majority, so that they may be saved.

11 Copy me, just as I’m copying the Messiah.