Show me the Bible verse that says, “I can’t do that.” Have you ever had anybody say that to you before? Show me where it’s at in the Bible that I can’t go here and I can’t say that and I can’t act in this sort of a way. Well, there’s a few problems with that. Number one is, if that’s the attitude, looking for license to do something questionable, then I would question your spiritual maturity. Also, there is Bible for that. You know, there’s a lot of things that aren’t expressly stated in the Scripture, but there is nothing that does not fall under the canopy, if you will, of Bible principle.
For example, I was reading in my Bible, and I like what the Apostle Paul said in verse 12 of 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I want to share it with you today. Here’s what he said: “All things are lawful unto me.” He said, “I am saved by grace. I live in grace. I move in grace. I operate in the realm of grace.” He said, “There is nothing legally binding or keeping me. I am a free entity, if you will. I have sole liberty. I can live my life according to my conscience and how it dictates to me the Word of God and will of God for my life. I have this liberty. All things are lawful unto me.” And that’s usually where the liberal stops, and the compromiser would stop, and the one looking for license to live less than Christlike, they stop.
Well, all things are lawful unto me. But you’ve got to continue reading the rest of the verse, and here’s what’s so important to understand. “All things are lawful unto me, but watch this. But all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I’ll not be brought under the power of any.” There is a difference here. I have this right, if you will. I guess we could say that. I’m saved by grace. I live in grace. Yes, but not all things are expedient. Just because I can does not mean it is a benefit. It does not mean it will bless. It does not mean that it betters.
And here is the thing about Christian growth. When I mature as a Christian, I don’t just live for myself. Now I live for you. I live for Christ. I want to be a blessing. I don’t want to be a stumbling block. When I was a child, I didn’t care if my parents had food to eat. I didn’t go make them a meal or purchase them food. I didn’t buy them clothes. Why? I was a child. I was spiritually immature. They did all of that for me, and I never reciprocated. I was not concerned as much with their well-being as they were with mine. They were more mature. Well, the same thing in the Christian life.
It is immature Christianity that wants to live with license and say, “I’m going to live to myself. I’m going to die to myself. I’m going to do what I want to do.” And you’ve got no Bible verse for it. Well, I do. Right here it is. Is it expedient? We have got to consider that there may be a weaker brother, a young Christian, somebody, and that act or that thing that we partake in is going to influence their life. Paul said, “If it offends you to fight meat, I won’t eat meat while the world stands.” He was willing to crucify himself, to lay aside his pride, to put his want to even in the back seat if he could be a blessing to somebody else. He did not want to put a stumbling block in their way.
And I want to challenge you. Let’s not live our life in the Christian realm by license, but let’s ask ourselves, is this expedient? Not just is it permissible, but is it going to be a blessing and a benefit and a builder in the life of other Christians and in my own life? All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. I hope this has been a help in your Christian life today.
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