1 Corinthians 10:23-33
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, This has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
There are gray areas in our lives, situations where it may not be clear what the right choice is. In those cases, we do well to consider the principles of scripture, and verses 23-24 gives us one such principle: "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." We have freedom in Christ to make our own decisions, but we need to consider the effects of those decisions. In particular, we need to seek the good of others rather than our own desires. Most of our sexual sins are motivated by selfish desires rather than considering what is best for the other person. Especially if we consider what is best for the other person's spirit. If our goal is for others to be saved (verse 33), then how will our sexual interactions with them affect that goal? Will it lead them to Christ or will it give them a bad impression of God and the church?
Dear God, thank you for the freedom you give us. Help me to seek the good of my neighbor and be a a good witness to others.
23 All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof. 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, This has been offered in sacrifice, then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
There are gray areas in our lives, situations where it may not be clear what the right choice is. In those cases, we do well to consider the principles of scripture, and verses 23-24 gives us one such principle: "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." We have freedom in Christ to make our own decisions, but we need to consider the effects of those decisions. In particular, we need to seek the good of others rather than our own desires. Most of our sexual sins are motivated by selfish desires rather than considering what is best for the other person. Especially if we consider what is best for the other person's spirit. If our goal is for others to be saved (verse 33), then how will our sexual interactions with them affect that goal? Will it lead them to Christ or will it give them a bad impression of God and the church?
Dear God, thank you for the freedom you give us. Help me to seek the good of my neighbor and be a a good witness to others.