1 Corinthians 10:23: All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
At no time did Paul deny the freedom of the mature Christian to enjoy his privileges in Christ. “All things are lawful”—BUT not everything is profitable, and some things lead to slavery (1 Cor. 6:12). “All things are profitable”—BUT some activities can cause your weaker brother to stumble. In other words, it is a mark of maturity when we balance our freedom with responsibility; otherwise, it ceases to be freedom and becomes anarchy, lawlessness. To begin with, we have a responsibility to our fellow Christians in the church (1 Cor. 10:23–30). We are responsible to build others up in the faith and to seek their advantage. While we do have freedom in Christ, we are not free to harm another believer. 1
Application
- Read 1 Corinthians 8:11-13. Even if it makes your brother stumble, will you still rationalize your reasons to do it anyway?
- Read Philippians 2:3-4. How can you esteem a fellow believer today with the Christ-like humility of a servant?
Thought to Share
Discover the great joy in valuing others the way that Jesus has valued you. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Lord, teach me to be a builder in the Kingdom of God.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.