In review of 1 Corinthians 6:12, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.” (NLT)
I should not misinterpret the words "I am allowed to do anything." Just because Christ had taken away my sin, doesn’t mean that I can live as I please, even if what I'm doing is not strictly forbidden by Scripture. Yes Christ has taken away all of my sins, but this does not give me freedom to go on doing what I know is wrong. Also while some actions are not sinful in themselves, they are not appropriate because they can control my life and lead me away from God. Some things I do can also hurt others. Anything I do that hurts rather than helps is not right. Freedom from sin and guilt, and freedom to use and enjoy anything comes from God. But I should not abuse this freedom and hurt myself or others. I need to be careful that what God has allowed me to enjoy, doesn't grow into a bad habit that controls me.
When deciding whether to allow something into my life, I can think of this as the Independence Test. Ask: Could this begin to control and dominate my life? Could it become addicting to me? Could I become dependent on it? No matter how fun something is, it’s bad for you if it becomes an addiction.
This is important because whatever dominates my life eventually becomes my god. The first of God’s Ten Commandments—says, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3 NIV). God knew how easily I could slip into worshiping other things. He knew I could get addicted to my idols.
I tend to think of idols as something in the past, little stone statues that people put on a shelf and worshiped. But we still have idols today. Maybe I obsess with, worship, things, power or prestige. That’s not to mention all of the things I can become addicted to: Work. Sex. Money. The Internet. The list can be endless.
To better understand what addiction I’ve fallen into or something that dominates my life, consider what do I think about the most? When I’m alone, where does my mind go?
It will be hard to be honest about the things that dominate my life. If I’m thinking, “This is not what I’m addicted to. It’s probably that.
In another translation of 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul says, “I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to” (TLB).
Paul decided not to let anything, other than Christ, control his life. Jesus is the only one that’s worthy of that place in my life, too. Anything else that I put in that place will eventually dominate and ruin my life. But when Christ is in control, he encourages, enables, and empowers me.
The next time I’m deciding whether something is in its proper place in my life, use the Independence Test. Christ is the only one who deserves my dependence.
In summary, I am allowed to do anything”, but not everything is good for me. I must not become a slave to anything. Just because Christ had taken away my sin, doesn’t mean that I can live as I please, but this does not give me freedom to go on doing what I know is wrong. Also while some actions are not sinful in themselves, they are not appropriate because they can control my life and lead me away from God. Some things I do can also hurt others. I need to be careful that what God has allowed me to enjoy, doesn't grow into a bad habit that controls me. Consider the independence test, Could this begin to control and dominate my life? Could it become addicting to me? Could I become dependent on it? Whatever dominates my life eventually becomes my god. To better understand what addiction I’ve fallen into or something that dominates my life, consider what do I think about the most? When I’m alone, where does my mind go? Jesus is the only one that’s worthy of that place in my life, too. Anything else that I put in that place will eventually dominate and ruin my life.
Father, today I will consider where my thoughts are going. I pray through the help of the Holy Spirit that you help me to see those for what they are and to help me eliminate them. I pray also for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray these through your Son Jesus name, Amen.
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