Try the latest Words of Life as Spotify Podcasts.

Tip: To see latest Words of Life, use Refine Search to list by Year. If using Mobile device, Refine Search may be located at end of page.

These words of Apostle Paul almost 2,000 years ago, should be so important to us that we too should try and live by them, especially when we see. so many things now being made lawful by governments, that may be contrary to God’s words. It is so easy to be trapped, especially if we are young, and opposition is put in our way by advice of concerned parents and teachers. The first response is usually “but it is lawful” As our text states things may be lawful but not necessarily expedient or good. For example, it is lawful to smoke cigarettes, but we know now that it is not healthy. It is lawful to drink alcohol at a certain age, but is it good for the person? It is now lawful to read many previously banned books etc., but does it create any good? It is now lawful to gamble in many ways, but is it necessarily good for family life? It is now lawful to play sports on Sundays, and yes, even very special Holy days. Is it good to put these things before the worship of God? It is now lawful for businesses to trade on Sundays, but is it necessarily good in God’s eyes?
The list can go on and on and as every week unfolds we see social pressures making more and more things lawful at the expense of God’s word. We can see that no longer can we use the yard stick of lawful or unlawful to determine whether it is pleasing with the Lord or against Him. More than ever we need to gain a greater knowledge of His word found in the Holy Bible and preached to us each Sunday, so that His Spirit within us can guide us in the right direction.
The second part of our text is the answer to this problem as the Apostle states: “But I will not be brought under the power of any.” It is easy to get heavily involved in these things, that they do begin to rule our lives without us realizing it, because it is lawful. In the book of Proverbs chapter 25-27 is written: “It is not good to eat much honey” and this really goes to the root of our text. We know that the sweet things in life must be taken in moderation or soon we are taking excess. They are still sweet but our health is soon effected. So much more if we take of excess these lawful things in our lives that may not be good for us. If we continually read bad books they begin to affect our way of living. If we continually watch bad shows on television or R. rated videos, they can soon bring us under their power, as seen vividly in news reports of so many crimes being influenced by these things. Attending night clubs and other places of poor repute can soon take control of us, so that if for some reason we are stopped, it seems to that person to be like the end of the world. Getting involved in weekend sport or trading, soon rules our lives, and family and worship take a second place and so it goes. The Apostle Paul summed it up in warning form in I Cor. 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
It is up to each of us to measure our intake of honey and not let ourselves be trapped under the power of these things which are worldly. We can strengthen our resolve by Apostle John’s words in 1 John 5:4 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”