Only Value How God Sees Us
ICS Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians 10:23,33 (NKJV) All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].… just as I please everyone in all things [as much as possible adapting myself to the interests of others], not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, so that they [will be open to the message of salvation and] may be saved.
There are many things that the Bible doesn’t address directly, such as whether Christians should tattoo their bodies or eat food offered to idols, what food and drink they should refrain from, and how they should dress. Is it wrong for Christians to follow the culture of the world? As Christians, we must not be legalistic. Yet, we must also not abuse the grace of God in our Christian living. Instead, we should have a balanced view between law and grace, and avoid stumbling others because of our actions.
The Apostle Paul taught the believers in the church of Ephesus not to walk according to their past lifestyles in the futility of their minds, and be influenced by the ruler of darkness impacting the course of this world. Similarly, we once lived without God and hope. Therefore, the lifestyle of our “old man” is very different from the Christian lifestyle that the “new man” in Christ is expected to live, and believers’ minds need to be continually renewed with the Word of God until we enter heaven.
Unbelievers have very different lifestyles from Christians, regardless of whether they are idol worshippers or atheists. Their values, principles, and identities are of the world. Their identities are built around their job titles, salary packages, assets, looks, and social status. Therefore, they will have different ways of thinking, behavioural patterns, and speech from what the Bible advocates. Typically, they value how people see and value them more than anything else. Having adopted the culture of the world, their worldviews are very different from Christians’, including how they deal with rejection, stress, loss of identity, mid-life crisis, grief, loss, pain, sorrow, suffering, and death.
As Christians, if we have a firm identity in Christ, we should only value how God looks at us and not let things of the world define us. We have a very different worldview and lifestyle from the rest of the world. Being secure in Christ, we won’t be bothered by other people’s opinions of our new lifestyle in Christ, nor will we have rejection issues because we are fully rested in God’s unconditional love. We don’t have to prove our worth to the world because we know that we are priceless in the sight of God. We have the wisdom of God, and our thoughts and actions are guided by the Word and the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Series : Not All Things Are Beneficial
