1 Corinthians 6:12

1 Corinthians 6:12 - “Everything is permissible for me” - but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” - but I will not be mastered by anything.

Paul says, “Everything is permissible for me.” He tells us that he can do anything, but then he continues, “But not everything is beneficial,” and again, “I will not be mastered by anything.” He is telling us that just because he can do whatever he wants he will not.
Paul had a mission; he had goals that he set for his life. If there was something that he wanted to do that would hinder the progress of those goals he would not do it. We need to adopt this way of thinking as well. There are many things in life that want to steal our time and we need to be careful.
Take television for instance. How many hours did you spend in front of the T.V. last week? We often use the excuse of time as a reason that we can’t do the things that we need to do, yet we find the time to watch our favorite shows. I’m not saying that watching television is bad. I thoroughly enjoy watching movies and there are a few shows that I like to stay caught up on as well, but we need a balance.
We need to prioritize. If we spend too much time on wasteful habits we will not have any time to give to the things and people that really matter in life. This is the message that I think Paul is trying to portray.

It’s not bad to do certain things, but is it working towards your goals? If you need to work on improving your marriage is it going to help to zone out in front of the T.V from the time you get home until you go to bed? No, of course not! Then why do we do it? I’ll give you two reasons. One, because we are lazy, and two, because we don’t want to face the hard issues in life.

Television is just one example that I think many of us can relate to, but your time waster could be something entirely different. Whatever it is, these things hinder your progress. The bottom line is that you need to take a look at what you want to accomplish; clearly lay out your goals and go after them. When you have your goals clearly defined it will be easier to avoid the time wasters.

1 Corinthians 6:12

1 Corinthians 6:12 - “Everything is permissible for me” - but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” - but I will not be mastered by anything.

What is right and wrong? This is a question that we have all asked ourselves. As a Christian what is ok for me to do? Obviously there are some things that are clear as Jesus told us to Love God and Love people. In doing this He told us we would be fulfilling all of the law and the prophets. But what about that other stuff? What about those things that do not harm you or others? There are things like drinking, smoking, and watching movies that have been at the front of these conversations in the church for years.

Paul answers the question here. “Everything is permissible for me.” Paul says that all things are ok, but then he takes it a step further. He says, “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial” then continues, “Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

As we ask the question, “Is it ok to do this?” Paul turns it back on us and says, “Sure, it is ok, but will it benefit you?” Basically Paul is telling us to stop arguing amongst each other and make a decision for ourselves.

It is no longer a question of whether you can or cannot do something, but why are you doing it. Will something good come as a result of your actions? That is what we must ask ourselves when we are contemplating doing something. It comes down to a heart attitude. Even though your actions make look pure God looks at the heart; the motives behind the actions (Proverbs 16:2).

We must weigh the consequences of our actions, not only in our own lives, but also in the lives of those around us. If our actions cause another to stumble then it is sin. If there is a question in your mind whether something is good or not you probably already have the answer. Meaning that if it is not clearly beneficial it is probably worth avoiding.