I Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. NKJ
Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me, but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power. AMP
Webster
1) lawful - adj. - allowed by law, legitimate, valid
2) expedient - adj. - suitable for the end in view, advisable
N. - a way or means of achieving an end in view. (F.
- expe’dient)
3) permissible - adj. - that may be permitted. (O.F.)
4) helpful - adj. - giving or offering help
Help - v.t. - to join and contribute to the performance or
completion of a task.
5) profitable - adj. - yielding profit or a profit (F.)
Profit - n - advantage, benefit
Profit - v.t. - to obtain financial gain or other benefit.
(F. - profiter)
6) power - n - control - controlling influence authority
Strong’s
1) lawful - 1832 - exesti - ex’-es-tee - or exon - ex-on’ - it is right -
be lawful
2)expedient - 4851 - sumphero - soom-fer’-o -
from 4862 and 5342 - to bear together (contribute) to
collect or to conduce, be better for, bring together, be
expedient for
4862 - son - soon - prim. Prep. - denoting union, with
together by association, companionship,
process resemblance.
5342 - pherp - fer’-o - a prim. verb - to bear or carry,
bring forth, carry, come, endure.
3) power - 1850 exousiazo - ex-oo-see-ad’-zo - from 1849 - to
control, exercise authority upon, bring under the power of.
1849 - exousia - from 1832 - force,
capacity,competency, mastery
1832 - exesti -es’-es-tee - third person sing. - be
lawful.
In reading this verse I am impressed with several things. The first is that Paul is speaking from the premise that he has already taken the commitment to walk with Christ. He is speaking from the idea that he has confessed his sins and that Christ is his Lord and Savior. Thus he is able to state that all things are lawful. He now lives under a new law, that is the law of Christ. The old laws no longer bind him. These are not the laws concerning the Sabbath, or any of the mountains of laws that have been written over the years by the Jewish priesthood that bind him. If he is hungry on the Sabbath he may freely eat. He is led by the Holy Spirit into how to live.
His next statement then carries with it the idea that while he could do many things that were once unlawful, those things may not be suitable for him. Paul has an end goal in mind while writing this verse. He is saying that he has choices and many of those choices in front of him are neither evil or good. They are just choices that will determine the direction of his life. Paul desires to live a life completely pleasing to the Lord. It is this desire that determines what is just lawful or what is expedient. Expedient implies that certain things carry more value because of the end goal of the person. While some things may not be wrong, they will not help to achieve the end goal or desire to live a life that glorifies the Lord.
Seeing that making his point is important, Paul once again states that all things are lawful. It does not mean that its lawful to commit murder. There are some things about life that are not part of this concept. Those things include murder, theft, lying, gossip, and other such things. These God has set forth in the Ten Commandments. Whether we live under the Old Testament laws or whether we live under the new covenant that Christ established, these things stand firm. They are not lawful. Paul is speaking of those things that either create an ordinary life or create a life of excellence. Sometimes there is no clear choice. Sometimes we are not sure which way is best. Neither is wrong, neither will cause harm, but choosing the best is sometimes difficult.
Paul’s one defining thought then is that the choice I make must not lead me back into the bondage or slavery of the past. The choice I make can not lead to me being controlled by anything. There should be only one master of my life and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. An example would be in taking a job. A job of its own is not evil. But when weighing a new job, financial gain is not the only thing that should be considered. Will the new job allow you to continue to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of your family? Will you still be able to meet and fellowship with other believers? An even more difficult question is, Does this job allow me to completely follow the Lord in all of my convictions and beliefs.? Finally, Is this truly where the Lord wants me to serve? This kind of thinking requires a person to realize that all of life is ministry. There are no compartments. Every breath we take is by the glory of God and should honor and glorify Him.
What is the past that Paul is talking about? What will we become enslaved to again if we make wrong choices? One of the things will be the sense of failure, the thought that we are not worth any thing. When we are walking with the Lord in close fellowship we walk with a sense of approval from the Lord. It causes us to have confidence and stability. It gives us the knowledge that we are loved and greatly cared for. But when we allow ourselves to fall under bondage again, we lose all of the above. Our spirit is wounded and unable to face life with joy and gladness. In fact, many of us walk around with a defeatist attitude, unable to see the blessing that surround us every day. Life has now become a burden. That is the bondage Paul speaks of, it is placing ourselves back under the power of sin. Living as though sin has the victory while in fact sin has been destroyed. We have placed ourselves there, not God.
So what does this verse mean for me as I travel down the road to healthy living and weight loss? For me I think it is that there is not one single food out there that is “illegal” but rather there are choices that are more suitable for the goal that I am reaching for. I have found that when I put certain foods on the no-no list, I tend to gravitate towards them because they are now forbidden. Possibly this could be called the Eve complex. They draw my attention because they are not to be eaten and a part of me rebels because that is just not fair. It is here that I find a change in thought and attitude works best. At first glance nothing is forbidden, it is all lawful. But if I truly desire to reach my goal I must make choices that are more suitable to reaching that goal. An occasional cookie, a piece of candy, or even a small order of French fries are not illegal, but for long term choices healthier fare is better.
I remember teaching my children to take the high road. The high road often leads a person in a different direction than everyone else. It is not always the easiest path to take. It can be lonely at times as the common road is well traveled. But in the end the high road leads to paths that are better, to blessing beyond compare, and also leaves the traveler with a sense of having accomplished something great. In this food addiction that I have, the high road leads to better health, to a better sense of self, and to a realization that I am the one in control not the food.
I no longer want food to be the slave master, I have been freed from it by the Savior I serve. By making wiser choices, I avoid becoming its slave once again. It does take work, it does take determination, but most of all it takes the conviction that I with the Lord’s help can make more expedient choices. I desire to have only one master and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father,
While your son has shown me the way of liberty, I ask that you show me the way of good and right choices. If I learn this attitude in my eating I will certainly be able to follow it in other areas of my life. Teach me to relish the freedom you and your Son have given me. I do not have to respond to the unnatural call of food in my life. Through your Holy Spirit I know that I can make the right choices that will glorify you both in how I live and what I eat. Daily show me the high road, the road that leads me to walk in your image and your spirit. Thank you for your Word and how it is helping me to overcome this food addiction. Thank you for your strength to live in victory.
I Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful (allowed by law, legitimate, valid) unto me, but all things are not expedient (suitable for the end view, advisable); all things are lawful (allowed by law, legitimate, valid) for me, but I will not be brought under the power (control, controlling influence, authority) of any.