Seeking What's Beneficial!

In Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth he stated. . .
"(12)'All things are lawful for me,' but NOT ALL THINGS ARE HELPFUL. 'All things are lawful for me,' but I WILL NOT BE ENSLAVED BY ANYTHING." ( 1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV)

A few chapters later we read similarly. . .
"(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." ( 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 ESV)

The specific subject matter Paul went on to address in each of these passages was food, sexual immorality, and meat sacrificed to idols. However, as Paul applied this principle to those subjects, it is something to consider with regard to anything that has the potential of taking control over our lives. Some people become mastered by things they never thought they would. They begin something that gradually takes on a greater influence than ever imagined and sometimes with devastating results. Therefore it is good to consider some activities before they ever begin. Yes, there may be no law (or command) against it, but is it beneficial to our life or the lives of others? Rather than merely focusing on our own freedom to do certain things, the greater issue to consider is the potential impact on our own life or that of those around us.

Consider the drinking of alcoholic beverages as an example. Though the Scriptures do not expressly forbid it, drunkenness is clearly condemned. However, what is the benefit? It is true some health benefits have been noted with regard to the drinking of wine, but most of those same benefits have also been attributed to the drinking of grape juice. Therefore it seems there is more to consider than just that.

Ponder the following statistics I recently came across in a bulletin clipping: "Every twenty-seven minutes someone in this country is killed by alcohol. Thirty million families suffer because a father or mother or both are alcoholics. Beverage alcohol kills more than 200,000 Americans each year. 80,000 died at Hiroshima, 35,000 died at Nagasaki; yet in America, alcohol kills more than that in one year." [Johnny Burkhart]

Do we recognize the devastation? Again, what is the benefit? Is it needful? Is it worth the chance of becoming enslaved by it? Why even start? Let us continually give thought to what is truly HELPFUL and good for BUILDING UP others as we seek not merely our own good, but the good of others as well. May we wisely recognize the potential impact our choices can have on not only our own life, but also the lives of those around us.

Have a great day FOCUSED ON WHAT IS REALLY NEEDED!
Carl

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