Reading: 1 Corinthians 10: 23-33
“Mom, may I eat all my Trick-or-Treat
candy now?”
“I think I’ll only play one more
computer game, and then I’ll…”
“I probably shouldn’t buy the most
expensive model, but I really want it.”
These are all examples of what Paul, in
the verses for today, says are not “unlawful.” He goes on to say, however, that
while these things may be permissible, they may not be useful or constructive
or edifying. In other words, we may be free to do many things, but our choices
need to be guided by whether they will bring glory to God. As believers, should
not our chief goal be to give the One who bought our freedom the glory and
honor He so deserves?
Rather than spending time inspecting our
every action to see if it’s “permissible,” our rule of thumb might be the
question, ”Does it glorify God?” Rather than just getting by, doing things
because they are allowable (eat all the candy, play computer games, buy that
model), we ought to want to live well.
So, what does “living well” look like
for us as believers? First, remember that we have been set free – free to do
God’s will, free to love Him fully, free to love others as we love ourselves. Then, we do what is most beneficial for others, we help others live well, and we do
what might help ease the way for others to see and want the freedom that we
have in Jesus.
Living well in freedom, we are most
certainly glorifying God!
“I will give thanks to thee, O Lord
my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify thy name forever.” (Psalm 86: 12)
