1 Corinthians 6:12 AMPC
12 Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.
Have you ever been at a place where you were uncertain whether doing something was acceptable or not because the Bible does not seem to give obvious direction about it? I am sure you have, and many times these kinds of issues bring about heated debates within our Christians circles.
Paul says in our key verse that everything is permissible for him, but not all things are helpful or expedient.
The word expedient as used in this verse means; to be better for or to bring together or to be profitable. This means that though permissible, some things may not be profitable, they may not bring together.
The principle of expediency demands that whatever the issue is, it must first be lawful. If God has specifically commanded us on what to do on an issue, then it remains unlawful if we do otherwise. For many, the confusion comes in because of the old covenant and the new covenant. This is why it is paramount for every believer to understand what the new covenant is about and how it differs from the old covenant; otherwise you may end up trying to please God within the new covenant while trying to live by the laws of the old covenant.
But then even with that in mind you and I must remember that we are one body and in everything we do we must consider others and not just look out for ourselves. We have strong mature believers and at the same time we have weak and growing believers within the same congregations.
The principle of expediency then demands that even though the issue is lawful, if it becomes a stumbling block for your brother or sister in the Lord, then you must NOT engage in it.
Though you may be a strong and mature believer, you must assess the feelings and strength of other believers around you.
Romans 14:15
15 But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died!
