1 Corinthians 10:23-33

23Some of you may say, ‘We are free to do anything that we want to do!’ But not everything is good for you to do. You may say, ‘We are free to do anything!’ But not everything helps you to be strong as a believer.

24Do not think about the things that will help you. Instead, each of you should think about what will help other people.

25You can eat any meat that people sell in the market. Do not ask questions about the meat. Do not cause your thoughts to have trouble.

26The Bible says this: ‘The earth, and everything in it, belongs to the Lord.’

27People who do not believe in Christ may ask you to eat a meal with them. Agree to go to his home, if you want to. Then you should eat whatever food they give to you. Do not ask questions about the food. Do not cause your thoughts to have trouble.

28But someone there may say to you, ‘They offered this food to an idol.’ If someone tells you that, do not eat the food. It might cause trouble to the thoughts of the person who told you.

29It may not cause your own thoughts to have trouble. But the other person may not be sure if it is right to eat that kind of food. Perhaps you will say, ‘Why should another person's thoughts decide what is right for me? I am free to do what I want.

30I thank God for my food before I eat it. If I do that, nobody should say that it is wrong for me to eat it.’

31Whatever you are doing, show that God is great. When you eat anything, or you drink anything, do it all in a way that praises God.

32Do not cause problems for other people. Whether they are Jews or Gentiles, or people who belong to God's church, live in a way that does not cause problems for them.

33Copy my example. Whatever I do, I try to make other people happy. I do not try to do what will help me. Instead, I want to help other people. I live in that way so that God will save many people.