12Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. (The Message)
When you have children one of the things you might find yourself asking is, do I want my children to do this? It might be the way you respond to other drivers or the things you listen to or watch. You might not find anything wrong with the activity and no one else is telling you that you shouldn't be doing these things but there is something inside of you that wonders if this is what your child should want to be emulate. As a parent you want the best for your children and you try to provide an atmosphere that nurtures them and gives them the best possibility of growing up well if at all possible. This is the same kind of thing that Paul is addressing here. Not if something is right or wrong so much but whether or not what we do is good for our, or others, spiritual growth. It is a good question to ask and one that doesn't always have an easy answer.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- What might be some things that were technically legal for the Corinthians but not spiritually appropriate?
- When you were a child do you ever remember being told, "Do as I say, not as I do!" What was it that was being done?
- What things in your life might you be doing that aren't helpful to you growing closer to God?
- What might you do if there was someone else doing something that broke your faith rather than building it up?
No comments:
Post a Comment