“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. 1Corinthians 6:12 ” …but not all things build up.” 1Corinthians 10:23 ESV
The King James Bible uses the word “expedient” here instead of helpful. Or in other words, all things do not ease, encourage, urge, stir, or quicken. These synonyms for expedient , are the unspoken realities behind what must comprise our value systems. Otherwise words, quotations, commentaries, concepts or ideas are not to be placed at the ‘highest’ of a man’s soul.
Friends, second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 14 uses this word, “constrain.” the word is used in relationship to love, in fact, the love of Christ.
- “Love is not urging or driving, but shutting up to one line and purpose, as in a narrow, walled road.” Vincent
- Paul’s conception of Christ’s love for him “holds him together to his task whatever men think or say.” Robertson
- ” …with irresistible power, limits us to the one great object to the exclusion of other considerations. It implies: to compress forcibly the energies into one channel. Love is jealous of any rival object engrossing the soul.” JFB
Friends, knowledge is said to puff up; however, Love builds up. 1Corinthians 8, verse 1. So, love, the very character and nature of God, is the essential ingredient that must be present in all functions of the soul. Otherwise,” the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6
But, are all sayings still lawful for me as Paul stated? Yes, that freedom of a man’s will, will forever be honored by the God who made us in his own image. As God is free, so also his creation. Nevertheless let’s consider something written by GK Chesterton.
” you can say, if you want, that a person is free to think she is a hard boiled egg. But surely it is a bigger and more important fact that if she is a hard boiled egg, then she isn’t free to eat, drink, sleep, walk, or smoke a cigarette.” G. K. Chesterton
So we may say that a person who exalts “free volition” as an end in itself, may unknowingly restrict himself as revealed through Chesterton’s story. In contrast, there are those who teach that free volition is restricted because of the law of “cause and effect.” These become determinists. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:6
Chesterton comments, “… The determinist is free not to believe in the reality of free will. But, it is a bigger and more important fact that she isn’t free to raise a hand, to curse, to thank, to justify, to urge, to punish, to resist temptation, to rally mobs, to make New Year’s resolutions, to pardon sinners, to resist tyrants, to even say thank you for the mustard.”
Oh, the consequences for wrong thinking, for ourselves and others. Thoughts, when held highly, over-ride old habits, become convictions or attitudes, have power to replace values, determine decisions. They can effect actions, they can become who we are.
Psalm 119 gives us Words for building.
- TORAH, “the Law” itself; God’s law in the widest sense, all whereby he has intimated his will to man.
- ’EDVOTH, or ’EDOTH, “testimonies.” God’s commands, considered as witnesses to his character, and as attesting his will. v. 36
- MISHPATIM, “judgments.” Judicial pronouncements by act or word against particular lines of conduct. v. 20
- KHUQQIM, “statutes”— Enactments of God as Legislator, but not confined to the written Law. V 26
- DABAR or DEBARIM, “God’s Word” His actual spoken or written utterances. v.17
- PIQQUDIM, “precepts.” Instructions given to men to direct their conduct. v.40
- MITSROTH, “commandments.” Only slightly differing from piqqudim—rather wider. v. 19-21
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Love ya
