How does 1 Corinthians 11:22 address the issue of selfishness in gatherings? Setting the Scene in Corinth • The Lord’s Supper in Corinth had become a divided meal. Some arrived early with lavish food and wine, eating and drinking their fill. Others—especially the poor—came later and found nothing left. • Paul addresses this directly in 1 Corinthians 11:22: “Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not!” Selfishness Exposed in Verse 22 • “Don’t you have your own homes…?”—Paul reminds believers that ordinary appetite can be satisfied privately. The gathering is not for self-indulgence. • “Despise the church of God”—Self-focused feasting shows contempt for the assembled body Christ purchased with His blood. • “Humiliate those who have nothing”—Withholding food shames poorer believers, making social status visible right at the table meant to proclaim the Lord’s death in unity (11:26). • “Shall I praise you? Certainly not!”—The apostle withholds commendation; selfishness voids any claim to spiritual maturity. Why Self-Centered Conduct Harms the Body • Breaks fellowship: “Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body” (1 Colossians 10:17). Hoarding contradicts that oneness. • Contradicts love’s priority: “No one should seek his own good, but the good of others” (1 Colossians 10:24). • Invites discipline: Later in the chapter Paul warns that many are “weak and sick” for partaking unworthily (11:30). How to Replace Selfishness with Christlike Consideration • Share generously—model the early church: “They shared with anyone who was in need” (Acts 2:44-45). • Wait for one another—Paul’s corrective command in 11:33. • Examine motives—come to the table focused on the Lord’s sacrifice, not personal appetite (11:28-29). • Honor every member—James 2:1-4 condemns favoritism; gatherings must reflect equal value in Christ. Related Passages Reinforcing the Lesson • Philippians 2:3-4: “In humility consider others more important than yourselves.” • 1 John 3:17: Closing our heart to a brother’s need denies God’s love. • Romans 12:10-13: “Be devoted to one another… Share with the saints who are in need.” Practical Steps for Today’s Gatherings • Bring enough to share, planning with those who have less. • Arrive early to serve, not to secure the best seat or first portion. • Watch for newcomers or the overlooked; invite them to the center of fellowship. • Use corporate meals to testify to gospel unity—different ages, incomes, and backgrounds enjoying one table. • Remember that every act at the gathering proclaims or distorts the Lord’s death; choose the former by self-sacrificing love. |
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