Hello, my “Walking with Jesus” friends and welcome to the WEEKEND!
Years ago, there was a live theatrical production called “Anything Goes”. It was part of the early wave of movies, books, TV programs and Broadway shows which, as the title suggests, urged a free for all lifestyle without restraint. About the same time, the famous “Woodstock” music festival splashed across the news headlines shocking America and the world with the craziness of a generation who pushed back against every restraint, every common sense. The men and women of that generation are now in their 70’s and shocked that their descendants are even more brazen in their rejection of accountability and responsible living.
Once again, our friend the apostle Paul is writing a letter which seems very contemporary, very applicable to our day, even though written 2000 years ago! We have this letter as 1 Corinthians in the Bible. Paul was writing from Ephesus where he had received a very troubling report of things happening among the Christians in Corinth that fit the philosophy of either “Anything Goes” or “Woodstock”. So, in his sixth chapter Paul writes these words: “Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Cor. 6:12) It’s a profound statement, isn’t it? It applies to every living human being, in every country of the world, every generation.
God has designed the human species to have the human freedom to think, say, choose and do ANYTHING our minds can imagine. Of course, in every society of the world laws have been developed to restrain people from doing many things that would be harmful to themselves or others. But those laws do not remove from humans the freedom to think, say, choose and act however they might desire. So, Paul, speaking as a well-educated, spiritually mature man declares the truth about God’s design for humanity but wisdom’s restraint… “not everything is beneficial.”
Take a moment and reflect back on your life my friends. Have you developed the self-discipline, the social responsibility, the ethical maturity to recognize, in any and every life situation, the wise course of action steering away from the path that would NOT be beneficial either for you or others? That’s parenting, isn’t it? Teaching our children, from the time they are very young, how to make wise choices that WILL be beneficial both for themselves and others, and learning to say NO to those things that, while perhaps permissible, will NOT be beneficial. Of course, as we mature in life, we learn to look at this powerful statement through every conceivable lens in life… relationships; financial stability; career development; character development; personal happiness; reputation; family legacy; and even spiritual life impact.
It is such a powerful statement Paul repeats it a second time with a slight variation: “Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.” You and I both understand that God’s wonderful design of our human species celebrates a wide diversity in how we human beings look at life and choose to live our lives. Some people love change, variety, and spontaneity. Other people like consistency, predictability, stability, and no surprises. Do you see the difference between these two “everything is permissible for me” statements of Paul? In the first case Paul encourages the self-discipline of always asking himself this question, every time he faces any choice… is it beneficial for me or someone else?
But now in this second phrase Paul acknowledges there is a deeply rooted addictive aspect to our humanness. Doing something which yields a positive response can develop a deep desire for that experience to be repeated often. It can apply to anything… food, beverage, an enjoyable hobby, a loving relationship, financial gain etc. That deep desire can be so powerful it can cause us to make wrong decisions, poor choices, even self-destructive choices. Our selfish choices can fairly easily put us into a bondage situation where we are mastered or controlled by a relationship, or a chemical, or a financial obligation, or a commitment. Do we understand Paul is challenging us to develop a spiritual maturity that will equip us for making wise, right choices every time? Choices that will be beneficial to us and others. Choices that will not lead us into bondage but keep us free? So, my friends, how do we develop the character and spiritual maturity necessary for consistently making wise choices?
May I give you some initial suggestions and then I’m going to invite us, all of us, to really give some serious contemplation to that question all weekend long, and on Monday we’ll come right back here to see what Paul says. As I leave you today, here are some character building questions to consider whenever we face choices…
1. What are the potential negative results of the choice I’m facing? How deeply might I regret a wrong decision here if the worst possible outcome became my reality?
2. If the people I most respect knew what I was contemplating doing, what advice would they give me?
3. What decision can I make in this situation which will most honor God and show to others that Jesus Christ really is guiding my life?
4. 25 years from now, what are the probable results of the decision I’m about to make…for me, for my reputation, for my legacy, and for those people about whom I most care?
I hope you have a great weekend my friends, inviting 1 Corinthians 6:12 to guide every decision you and I will face this weekend, in fact I urge us all to memorize it: “Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.”
And here’s a great song for our weekend reflection…
Today’s Scripture is 1 Cor. 6:12.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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