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Not everything you have the liberty or opportunity to do is profitable. “All things are lawful,” but all things are not expedient.1 Wisdom asks not only, “Can I do this?” but also, “Does this please God, strengthen my faith, and honour His purpose for my life?”
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies…” — Proverbs 6:16–19 KJV²
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient…” — 1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV
Scripture identifies attitudes and behaviours God hates because they destroy people and corrupt relationships. Pride exalts self above others; lying destroys trust; violence against the innocent disregards the sanctity of life; wicked imaginations allow evil to take root in the heart; feet running to mischief reveal an appetite for wrongdoing; and false witnessing uses words to damage others. Proverbs goes further to warn against sowing discord among brethren.2
Grace does not give us permission to embrace everything our culture permits. Something may be legal, popular, fashionable, entertaining, or socially acceptable and still be spiritually unprofitable. The mature believer learns to examine choices by the Word of God. Do not merely ask whether something is allowed; ask whether it edifies, whether it controls you, whether it harms others, and whether it glorifies God.
Take inventory of your heart today. Reject pride, dishonesty, malicious thoughts, destructive behaviour, false accusations, and anything that divides people unnecessarily. Choose humility, truth, purity, peace, justice, and love. You have been called to freedom, but use your freedom to honour Christ.3
Today, I choose what pleases God, not merely what is permissible. I reject pride, lies, wicked imaginations, violence, mischief, false accusations, and division. I will not be mastered by anything that weakens my faith or corrupts my character. By the grace of God, my thoughts, words, choices, and relationships will honour Christ and build others up!
Referenced Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV) — “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.” ↩︎
- Proverbs 6:16–19 (KJV) — “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” ↩︎
- Galatians 5:13 (KJV) — “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” ↩︎