1 Corinthians 10: 24. Let no man seek his own: But every man another's wealth.
The occasion of these words of the Apostle Paul, was because of the abuses which were in the Church of Corinth. Which abuses arose chiefly through swelling pride, self-love and conceitedness, for although this Church was planted by Paul and watered by Apollo, and much increased by the Lord; yet the sower of tares was not wanting to stir up evil workers and fleshly minded hypocrites, under a show of godliness, and with Angel-like holiness in appearance, to creep in amongst them to disturb their peace, try their soundness, and prove their constancy. And this the Apostle complains of very often: as first, in their carnal divisions, Chap. 1. then in their extolling their eloquent teachers, and despising Paul, Chap. 4. Then in their offensive going to Law, before the heathen Judges, Chap. 6. Then in eating things offered to Idols, to the destroying of the tender consciences of their Bretheren, Chap. 8. Then in their insatiable love-feasts, in the time and place of their Church meetings, the rich which could together feed to fulness, despising and condemning the poor, that had not to lay on it as they had, Chap. 11. Finally in both the Epistles, he very often nippeth then for their pride, and self-love, straitness and censoriousness, so that in the last Chapter he willeth them again and again to prove, try and examine themselves, to see whether Christ were in them or not, for howsoever many of them seemed, as thousands do at this day to soar aloft and go with full sail to Heaven: yet as men that row in Boats, set their Faces one way, when yet their whole body goeth apace another way: so there are many which set such a face upon Religion, and have their Mouth full of great swelling words: as if they would even blow open the doors of heaven, despising all humble minded and broken-hearted people, as weak, simple, etc. when yet notwithstanding, these Blusterers, which seem to go so fast, and leave all others behind them, if like these glosing Corinthians they carry affectedly their own glory with them, and seem thus to stand for the glory of God. What do they else but join flesh to spirit, serving not God for nought, but for wages, and so serving their bellies, whose end will be damnation, except a speedy and sound remedy be thought of, which Remedy is even that which our Savior teacheth the rich young gallant, and which Paul here prescribeth, in willing them not to seek their own, but every man another's wealth, which Physick is as terrible to carnal professors, as abstinence from drink is to a man that hath the dropsy; and it is a sure note, that a man is sick of this disease of self-love, if this be grievous to him as appeareth in the man whom Christ bid sell that he had, and he went away very sorrowful, yet surely this vein must be pricked, and this humor let out, else it will spoil all, it will infect both soul and body, yea, and the contagion of it is such as will even hazard the welfare of that society where self-seekers and self-lovers are. [Robert Cushman]
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