Does It Edify?

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 1 Corinthians 10:23 (KJV)  

• 1 Corinthians 10:24 (KJV) Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
• 1 Corinthians 10:29 (KJV) Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 
• 1 Corinthians 10:33 (KJV) Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit [well being], but the profit [well being] of many, that they may be saved.    

Saved, swzw sozo, a primary contraction that means “safe.”  So, the liberty we give ourselves should reflect our agapao love for others and not our own desire to gratify our flesh. We are our brothers keeper and responsible to keep them safe and sound, and to rescue them from danger or destruction. This is the law of love that Jesus taught.

A pet peeve of mine is that ministers today take such liberty to show the grace of God by living life-styles that are like bear traps to the flock of God. Let me tell you a story to illustrate the danger:

While attending a home Bible study a guest teacher brought bread and wine to administer communion. The owner of the home asked him to use grape juice instead of wine and he agreed. He put his bottle of wine in their refrigerator, meaning to take it with him when he left. Well, as would have it, he left after the meeting and forgot his bottle of wine.

Living in the home with the family was the wife’s mother. She had been an alcoholic for years and had now been dry for over three years. She was wont to get up in the night and go to the refrigerator to get a snack and go back to sleep. This night, however, she found a bottle of wine beckoning to her and she went on a ten year binge.

Her problem, you may say. No, not at all. The law of love dictates that we not put a stumbling block in the way of the weak. This was an unintentional accident, but what of the Pastor I just saw at the Olive Garden guzzling down a bottle of wine? Selah.

George

Copyright (c) 2009 George M. Stover Jr.