"All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful… I will not be brought under the power of any.” (v.12)
As Christians we have been set free from the bondage of sin and been given great liberty in Christ. But, that doesn't mean that all things are helpful. We can drink, smoke, go to "R" rated movies, hangout in clubs, but are any of things helpful? If we choose to indulge in something that can control us, get a hold on us, becoming a substitute for our time with God, then it is not helpful to our walk as a Christian, and probably not good for our witness to others as well.
With the growing use of cell phones, laptops and social media sites, an increasing number of people are withdrawing deeper into cyberspace every day. You can see them; in their cars, in the store, at dinner, on the job, browsing their facebook page, sending a text message, twitting or visiting some Internet site. Also video games have grown from a form of entertainment to an immensely competitive job, where teams compete for status and even prize money through tournaments. This begs the question, when has something legitimately moved from enjoyment to addiction?
When people cling to activities despite negative effects (loss of sleep, frustration, anxiety, mood changes), it generally indicates addictive behavior. Another common indicator is a defensive attitude when confronted in love about an overindulgence in some area. While there is nothing inherently wrong with most of what we do for enjoyment, we must check ourselves to make sure we are in control and not the other way around, that there is balance in our lives and not obsession or overindulgence.
Here in chapter 6, the apostle Paul reminds us to be careful, “not to be brought under the power of any.” It takes humility to admit that our enjoyment has become an addiction. Let's all check ourselves to make sure (we are in control), and if in doubt, seek God’s help and direction.
The Truth: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
