"Everything in Moderation" ...Is that in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 6
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
You have heard the saying, "Everything in moderation". While that may be true in some sense, it really depends what that "everything" is. Crack cocaine in moderation? Sex with a prostitute in moderation? A glass of wine in moderation? A Big Mac a day in moderation? You see the point! While that may seem like an extreme argument, Paul is trying to snuff out a problem in Corinthians church. The problem was people were dabbling in sexual immorality and saying it was okay. Since they were forgiven what would it hurt to engage in a little bit of fun.
But when you read the list of the things in the verses above, it is clear that "everything in moderation" was not working. Please hear I am not advocating legalism. We have freedom in Christ. Christ has set us free from slavish obedience to the Law. Or, creating all kind of laws and saying this is what it means to be a Christian. But we are not free to return to sin. What Paul is saying is while you have freedom to make choices, not all choices are good for you. You can choose to eat McDonald's quarter pounders every night, but that really is not good for you. You are putting your health, your life and those who count on your in jeopardy. While you are free to eat cheeseburgers every meal it is not beneficial.
In the same way God created us to enjoy the gift of sex, but within certain boundaries to protect us. God gave us marriage as an expression of who he is. As we become with another person in the covenant of marriage, we can enjoy the beautiful gift of sex. But when we choose to exercise our freedom and have sex outside of the boundaries God has given us, it is not beneficial to us or anyone else.
So what can we conclude? Paul says in Galatians 5:13,"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." Our freedom in Christ is one of the greatest gifts Jesus has given us. Let us use it wisely for what is truly beneficial and good for us!
12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
You have heard the saying, "Everything in moderation". While that may be true in some sense, it really depends what that "everything" is. Crack cocaine in moderation? Sex with a prostitute in moderation? A glass of wine in moderation? A Big Mac a day in moderation? You see the point! While that may seem like an extreme argument, Paul is trying to snuff out a problem in Corinthians church. The problem was people were dabbling in sexual immorality and saying it was okay. Since they were forgiven what would it hurt to engage in a little bit of fun.
But when you read the list of the things in the verses above, it is clear that "everything in moderation" was not working. Please hear I am not advocating legalism. We have freedom in Christ. Christ has set us free from slavish obedience to the Law. Or, creating all kind of laws and saying this is what it means to be a Christian. But we are not free to return to sin. What Paul is saying is while you have freedom to make choices, not all choices are good for you. You can choose to eat McDonald's quarter pounders every night, but that really is not good for you. You are putting your health, your life and those who count on your in jeopardy. While you are free to eat cheeseburgers every meal it is not beneficial.
In the same way God created us to enjoy the gift of sex, but within certain boundaries to protect us. God gave us marriage as an expression of who he is. As we become with another person in the covenant of marriage, we can enjoy the beautiful gift of sex. But when we choose to exercise our freedom and have sex outside of the boundaries God has given us, it is not beneficial to us or anyone else.
So what can we conclude? Paul says in Galatians 5:13,"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." Our freedom in Christ is one of the greatest gifts Jesus has given us. Let us use it wisely for what is truly beneficial and good for us!
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