1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the world are come. The words of this verse may be better rendered, "happened unto them typically." "The real point of the passage is - These things which occurred to them are to be looked upon by us, not merely as interesting historical events, but as having a typical significance. Their record remains as a standing warning that great privileges may be enjoyed by many, and used by them to their destruction. In introducing this subject, dwell on the mission of history and biography in relation to education and culture. If science and mathematics bear most powerfully on mental training, history and biography are the most important agencies in moral culture. As the poet Longfellow says "Lives of great men all remind us We may make our lives sublime." There is an important sense in which there is "nothing new under the sun? Circumstances, situations, and the relations of men to them, constantly repeat themselves; with sufficient variety, indeed, to give individuality and to impress responsibility, but with sufficient sameness for us to recognize the adaptation of the warning or the example to us. One age can become thus a power upon another, but the power is related to general principles rather than to minute details. So the records of ancient and Eastern life, given to us in Holy Scripture, become a gracious power on us. The records have been written for our admonition, upon whom the "ends of the age" are come. The story of ancient Israel, especially in the forty years of its wilderness life, is for the most part one of warning. As such, the apostle here calls it to mind. We may find in it warning of four possible perils. I. YIELDING TO BODILY PASSIONS. In all ages there are found indications of man's danger from the corrupt inclinations of his own body. Adam and Eve sinned by yielding the conscience of duty to the bodily inclination; and brought upon the race an undue force of carnal passion, which makes the life conflict to win righteousness a heavy and a hard one for every man. Some have felt this so deeply that they have thought virtue must come by the crushing down of the body, the absolute repression of all its inclinations. This is the inspiring thought which has driven men into hermits' caves and monkish cells; but it is a truer conception of life that regards the body as providing the very conditions of our moral trial; and the problem for us to work out is the conquering and efficient using of every power and faculty. The Christian triumph is to know how to "possess the vessel of our body in sanctification and honour." This may be illustrated from the perils of the Corinthian Christians, who had to live in the midst of a society where bodily pleasure reigned supreme. The passions by which we may be overcome are: 1. Self indulgence; over responding to the appetites for (1) food, (2) drink, (3) society, (4) pleasure, (5) learning, (6) art. All for our use and for our good; but all may be unduly pursued, to our moral peril. 2. Sensuality; the passions which bear relation to our life associations. It is important to learn, from the example of the Israelites, and from the usual scenes at pagan and heathen festivals, that unusual excitement in religion fosters the sensual passions into undue strength. II. YIELDING TO IDOLATRY. It may seem as if no such peril could be near to us in these Christian times. But the Apostle John starts us upon searching thoughts of our own dangers when he says, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." For us now, (1) children may be idols; (2) friends may be; (3) success may be; (4) our house and home may be; (5) our pursuits may be; for an idol is anything in a man's life which succeeds in pushing itself before God. III. YIELDING TO PRESUMPTION. (Ver. 9.) David shows a remarkable insight of his own frailty when he prays, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me." This is the subtle peril of advanced and experienced Christian life. A man may take advantage of God; presume upon what is his will, without asking him; and even may put God to the test; these being sure signs of lost humility and lost childlike dependence. It was the sin of Rebekah; she presumed on the promise made her concerning Jacob, and so was set upon trying to fulfil the promise by schemes of her own. IV. YIELDING TO COMPLAINING. (Ver. 10.) A peril that comes to us all when the circumstances of life will not go "according to our mind." Troubles and disappointments and failures are Divine testings of our professed trust; and for us to complain and fret and murmur is plainly to show lost submission and lost trust. He never complains who holds firmly the assurance that "all things work together for good to them that love God." - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. |
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