PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship

We have seen that soulish people open the door to the lusts of the flesh and that fleshly people will insist on claiming their rights. Following this comes the abuse of freedom. In the church the soul must be denied. This is the basis for the church life on the negative side. On the positive side, the basis of the church life is the truth regarding Christ and His cross. In the church life we all must learn to deny the soul; that is, not to give any ground, occasion, or opening for the soul to do anything. Once the believers in a church become soulish, the church life is terminated, for the door will be open to the lusts of the flesh, and these lusts will give rise to the claiming of rights. There will even be the building up of a base both for claiming rights and for the abuse of human freedom. As we consider these matters, we realize that the sequence in which Paul deals with the problems in Corinthians is marvelous.

I. A BASIC PRINCIPLE

A. All Things Lawful but Not All Things Expedient

Paul opens this section with these words: "All things are lawful to me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful to me, but I will not be brought under the power of anything." The Greek word rendered lawful literally means under my power of choice to do; hence, permissible, allowable, lawful. The word for expedient means profitable (not merely convenient), advantageous, good, worthwhile. This Greek word means profitable, economical, convenient, helpful in reaching the goal quickly. It also refers to things that are good. Here Paul's thought may be that all things are lawful, but not all things help us to remain in the central lane of God's economy. All things are lawful, but not all things help us in bearing the cross or are profitable in experiencing Christ.

If we would understand Paul's use of the word expedient here, we need to have a proper realization concerning the book of Corinthians as a whole. All things are lawful to us, but not all things help us to gain the profit revealed in this Epistle. Not all things help us to live the Body life. Yes, you may be free to do certain things, but those things will not help you in the church life, and they will not strengthen your prayer life….

B. Not Brought under the Power of Anything

In verse 12 Paul twice says, "All things are lawful to me." The first use of these words is somewhat objective; the second use is very subjective. Paul says, "All things are lawful to me, but I will not be brought under the power of anything." Literally the Greek words rendered "be brought under the power of" mean to be brought under the authority of. All things are under my power, but I will not be brought under the power (authority) of anything. All things are permissible, allowable, lawful, to me, but I will not be ruled (enslaved) or brought under the authority, the control, of any….

When you consider whether or not to do a certain thing, you should ask if you are under the power or control of that thing. If a particular thing controls you or has power over you, you should not do it. For example, you may wonder if you should eat certain foods. It may be all right to eat those foods, but they should not have any power over you. We must fully deal with anything that has power over us.

II. OUR BODY FOR THE LORD

A. Foods for the Belly, and the Belly for Foods

In verse 13 Paul goes on to say, "Foods are for the belly and the belly for foods; but God will bring to nothing both it and them." Foods and the belly are for the existence of the body. By themselves they do not mean anything; God will bring them to nothing….

B. The Body Not for Fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the Body

In verse 13 Paul also says, "But the body is not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

Our body was created for the Lord, and the Lord within us is for our body. He feeds it with material food (Psalms 103:5) and gives it His resurrection life (Romans 8:11), which swallows its death element with its weakness and sickness. Eventually He will transfigure it, conforming it to His glorious body. We should not abuse it by fornication.

On the one hand, Paul says that the belly is for food; on the other hand, he tells us that the body is not for fornication. We are free to eat what we choose, but we may not commit fornication. However, if we eat excessively, we shall cause damage to our body. Thus, although we are free to eat, we should be careful to eat in a healthy way. Our appetite easily runs wild. Thus, it needs to be bridled, restricted.

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