Law vs. Profitability I. Introduction A. Introducing a topic that is spiritual meat 1. Hebrews 5:14, Hebrews 6:1-3 2. A topic requiring some understanding of the Gospel B. Development of Instruction 1. Often in elementary school or when just beginning to learn a language, many rules are taught that are later modified 2. For instance, we are told to never begin a sentence with "because;" later we learn that we may if it begins a subordinate clause at the beginning of the sentence 3. Would we say that our elementary school teacher lied to us? Certainly not! 4. The instruction we received was profitable for our level of understanding at the time C. Same with issues of law vs. profitability 1. As Christians younger in the faith, we are told to simply avoid many things that are not profitable 2. As we develop in Christ, we may be able to understand why these things are to be avoided even if there is no specific law against them 3. We may call this what is lawful vs. what is profitable D. Principle established in 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 10:23 1. There are many times when a practice perhaps is lawful, but it does not profit the one who would practice it 2. Let us see some examples of this principle in Scripture II. Law and Profitability: Liberties A. One major area where what is lawful may not be profitable is in the realm of liberties 1. Liberties: practices or methods of performing practices that are not expressly commanded in Scripture and which may be adaptable if someone has a difficulty with it 2. Example: eating what was deemed "unclean" by the Jewish Law B. Liberty in Romans 14 1. Two parties with a disagreement over what is deemed as a liberty a. explanation of Romans 14 text 2. Is it lawful to eat the meat? Yes. Is it lawful to not eat the meat? Yes. 3. The principle of law vs. profitability: even though it is lawful for the "stronger" brother to eat the meat, he is commanded in Romans 15:1 to bear the weakness of the weak, and therefore is it not profitable to cause the "weaker" brother to sin, and therefore he ought not eat the meat around him C. Liberty in 1 Corinthians 8 1. The strong brother with knowledge versus the recent convert who is still growing a. explanation of 1 Corinthians 8 text 2. Is it lawful to eat the meat sacrificed to idols? Apparently so. 3. Principle of law vs. profitability: even though it is lawful to eat the meat sacrificed to idols, it is not profitable if it becomes a stumbling-block to the conscience of a weaker brother 4. The influence of example bears heavily on law vs. profitability, and many other contexts could be considered under this principle III. Other Uses of the Law vs. Profitability Principle A. Proper Judgment 1. In Galatians 5:19-23, Paul gives us lists of the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit a. in that text, he says that there are other works of the flesh to be considered under "things like these" b. this requires judgment on our part 2. Upon what basis may we make these judgments? a. certainly similarities of actions (gambling/idolatry; unmarried dancing/lasciviousness) b. with these, and especially with the example of alcohol, the principle of law vs. profitability may be used 3. Example: alcohol a. Bible does not condemn all forms of drinking b. Jesus most probably consumed alcoholic beverages, notably wine, and at much lower levels of alcohol than in today's wines c. Bible does condemn drunkenness and the process of getting drunk d. Therefore, is the consumption of alcohol in some forms lawful? Presumably so. But…is it profitable? 4. We may see, then, that we need to take any given belief or practice and use our Biblical understanding to judge whether or not the practice is profitable or not. B. Divorce 1. Highly sensitive topic a. I want no one to believe that I am condemning them or rebuking them for having a Scriptural divorce with the things I say below b. The information spoken below is designed to have us think about the profitability of divorce and is in no way a chastisement for those who have already been divorced 2. We have been told in Matthew 19:9 that it is permitted for a divorce to occur if the spouse has committed sexual immorality 3. Therefore, it is certainly lawful, but is the divorce profitable? a. A question that ought to be asked by every spouse who contemplates divorce for reasons of sexual immorality b. Malachi 2:16: God does not like divorce c. It was God's original plan, stated in Genesis 2 and referred to by Jesus in Matthew 19, for man to have one wife for life d. Many misunderstand God’s distaste for divorce to mean that God condemns for divorce. e. God can allow for things that He does not like when He so desires (Romans 9), for the burden of the dislike is on the one who initially breaks the covenant (the one who has put asunder, the one committing sexual immorality) f. But it should make us think 4. Divorce perhaps is lawful if done for sexual immorality, but we must ask ourselves whether it is truly profitable? 5. It certainly may be, but it also may not be—it should not be rushed into IV. Utilizing the Principle A. We have seen, therefore, that the principle of law vs. profitability may be used in many situations when Christians are given liberties and/or are called upon to make judgments on a given practice B. When we use the principle, what should we consider? What makes something profitable or not profitable? C. Let us ask ourselves the following: 1. Will it commend us to God? 2. Can it lead us to sin? 3. What would other Christians think of me doing this? 4. Is this something that allows my light to shine (Matthew 5)? 5. Will someone receive the wrong impression of me as a Christian if they saw me doing this? 6. Finally, would I find my Savior doing this? D. If after objective—and I mean objective—analyzation of the questions above, and after a good study of all Scriptures that might pertain to the practice and after spending some time in prayer, if you find the practice to still be profitable, then utilize your liberty. E. If, however, you cannot answer all the questions as they should be answered, or if you can answer them properly but still feel as if it may not be profitable, then do not do it; in this case, it may still be sin to you (Romans 14:23) F. Many issues that are divisive and problems that arrive in churches would be much better and more easily resolved if we used the principle of law vs. profitability more often in matters of liberty V. Conclusion A. The principle of law vs. profitability represents another feature of conforming our lives to that of Christ B. By contemplating our actions, and determining whether or not they are not only lawful but also profitable, we continually keep ourselves in harmony with God’s Word C. We thus often consider others before ourselves, a demonstration of the humility that ought to mark a Christian (Philippians 2:1-5) D. We may remember that Christ also considered the idea of law vs. profitability in Matthew 17:24-27 1. Matter of the half-shekel tax for the Temple 2. It was lawful for Jesus to not pay the tax, but so as to not give offense in such spiritual matters, He found a way to pay the tax E. If Christ Himself considered such things, we ought to also F. The Invitation of our Lord 1. The material tonight was not designed for an unbeliever to recognize the need for Christ, since it is a lesson of spiritual meat for those who have professed Christ, yet we give any and all an opportunity to make their lives right with God 2. If you have never called upon Christ as your Lord, we give you an opportunity to obey Him this evening 3. If you have professed Christ but have not lived as you ought to; perhaps you performed something you saw as lawful but was not profitable, or any other thing, let us help you in any way we can as we stand and sing