1 Corinthians 6:12b
Ps Paul Cheng
Dear Bethelites,
As we consider the theme, “Not all things are profitable,” we learnt that Paul was speaking specifically about sexual immorality and why it was so serious and harmful. Last week, we began with Paul’s first reason that (I) sexual sin was not profitable, All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient (1 Corinthians 6:12a). Today, we will continue to look at his second reason.
Sexual sin controls us
1 Corinthians 6:12b, all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
One of the things sin would do to our lives is to control us, be brought under the power. The more we indulge in it, the more it controls us. Often, it begins with very small indulgences, and gradually, it leads us to greater ones, and then to horrendous sins. Finally, we are captured or controlled by it.
When the Corinthians proudly said, “All things are lawful for me,” they were actually saying, “I have the authority to do all things!” So in a sense, Paul was saying to them, “This is what you say, but as for me, I will not be brought under the authority of any of that. I can claim to have the authority to do some things, but if it enslaves me, and becomes my authority, then something is terribly wrong. It should never be that way because Jesus is my Master and the sole authority of my life.”
Most of the time, we think that we are in control of ourselves. We think that we are perfectly in control of our thoughts and actions, simply because we are always doing what we want to do. We would say, “See, I am doing whatever I want to do, therefore I must be in control of myself.” But the truth is that our desires and passions are telling us what to do, and we are just going along with it, controlled by it. We are not the masters of our desires, but instead we are willing slaves. Our flesh is controlling our minds, and we are brought under the power of the flesh. The flesh tells us, “I want to do that,” and we simply follow. We have no strength to fight against the power of the flesh!
This may apply even to non-essential matters, but if it enslaves or controls us, then it has to “go.” For example, some people love jogging, walking, cycling, going to the gym, and so forth. Exercise is good for your health, but it should not be the main focus of your daily activities. Or if you miss one exercise, you would feel so restless, agitated and uncomfortable. Or if it has affected your quiet time with God, you would rather miss fellowship meetings to go for exercise, in order to achieve your goals to reach a certain number of steps of your “fitbit.” Something is wrong, don’t you think? You have been brought under the power of that thing, which is exercise! Hence, though exercise may be a good thing, but when it starts to take control of your life, then you must be able to recognise it, and let it “go.”
The same principle may apply to television shows. Not all shows are bad. Let us say, you love a particular TV program, and most of the drama series will end with some kind of suspense, to make viewers come back to watch the next show. Thus you stay up late and watch through the night, and then you have great difficulties waking up for work the next morning. Your mind keeps thinking about the suspense so much that your job and relationships with others are affected, and you become so grumpy the whole day. Even if the TV program may be educational and it is about family life, when it starts to take control of your life, then you must be able to recognize it, and it must “go.”
Dear friend, if we are really passionate about living for Christ, and glorifying Him in our body and in our spirit, then, we must stop and consider, “Even if this thing is lawful, but is this thing in control of my life, or is Christ in control of my life?” Am I able to recognise those things which have taken control of my life? It could be some sports like playing golf, or some hobbies like fishing or gardening, or some social activities, or going for holidays. Am I able to say “No, I will not be brought under the power of any of these things?”
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng
(To be continued in the next pastoral chat)