All Things Are Lawful, But Not All Things Are Helpful
"All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up." — 1 Corinthians 10:23
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Introduction
We've come to the end of this sermon series, and what better way to close than with a truth that sums up everything we've been learning together: Christian freedom is not a blank check to do whatever we want. It is a precious gift that carries within it an equally precious responsibility. When Paul writes to the Corinthians, he quotes the same phrase twice — "all things are lawful" — but each time he quotes it, he adds a condition that completely changes its meaning.
The Christians in Corinth lived in a cosmopolitan city full of temptations, philosophies, and freedoms of every kind. Some had come to the conclusion that, because they were in Christ, they could do anything without consequences. Paul doesn't come down hard on them — he even acknowledges there's a measure of truth in that statement. But he challenges them with a question that ought to live in the heart of every believer: "Is it helpful? Does it build up?"
In this final message, I want us to walk away with three practical anchors for navigating our freedom in Christ with wisdom and love.
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1. Freedom Is Not the Destination — It's the Road
Many of us confuse freedom with the finish line. We think: "I've been set free — so I can!" And that's true. But Paul makes clear that freedom isn't where we arrive; it's how we travel. The real question is never "Can I do this?" but rather "Where does this take me?"
In Galatians 5:13, Paul is even more direct: "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Christian freedom has a direction: it always points toward our neighbor, toward service, toward love. When we use our freedom only to satisfy ourselves, we are no longer exercising it the way Christ intended.
In practical terms, this means asking one question before making decisions: "Does this choice serve only me, or does it also serve others?" That answer doesn't automatically tell you what to do, but it steers your heart in the right direction.
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2. Not All Things Are Helpful: The Test of What Helps
Paul uses a very interesting word: helpful. In Greek, sympherei, which literally means "to bring benefit together" — what is good for the whole, not just for one part. Helpful isn't just what's right for me individually; it's what is healthy for the community around me.
How often do we exercise our freedom in a perfectly legitimate way, yet without considering the impact on the weaker ones, on those who are newer in the faith, on those who are watching us? In 1 Corinthians 8, Paul talks about food sacrificed to idols: eating that food was not, in itself, a sin. But if it caused a weaker brother to stumble, then freedom had become a stumbling block — and that, Paul says, would be sinning against Christ.
The mature believer doesn't just ask "Do I have the right?" — they ask "What does this cost the person standing next to me?" This is the mark of spiritual maturity: voluntarily subordinating your freedom to the good of another. Not out of obligation, but out of love.
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3. Not All Things Build Up: The Test of Edification
The second condition Paul presents is even more demanding: not all things build up. To build up, in the biblical sense, is to construct the house of God — the Church, the body of Christ. Every action we take either contributes to building or to wearing down that spiritual structure.
In Ephesians 4:29, Paul applies this same principle to our very words: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." If this is true for words, it is true for everything else — our habits, our entertainment choices, our social media use, our friendships.
Before every decision, there is a simple but powerful question: "Does this build up or tear down?" Does it build up my inner life? Does it build up the relationships around me? Does it build up the faith community I'm a part of? If the answer is no, then even if it's lawful, it may simply not be worth it.
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Conclusion
Throughout this series, we've learned that Christian freedom is glorious — it was purchased at a tremendous price on the Cross of Calvary. But that same Cross teaches us that true love gives itself, holds itself back, and sacrifices. Jesus, being free from all things, made himself a servant to all.
Today, the challenge I leave with you is this: choose to live not by the motto "I can," but by the question "Should I?" Not by the boundary of what is permitted, but by the horizon of what builds up. Every time you lay down a legitimate right out of love for someone else, you are imitating Christ. And there is no greater freedom than that.
Carry these two questions with you into the week: Is it helpful? and Does it build up? Let them filter your choices — and you will see how your life becomes an ever-growing blessing to everyone around you.
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Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the freedom You gave us through Your death and resurrection. Teach us to use it not to serve ourselves, but to serve others and glorify Your name. May every choice we make be guided by love, and may our freedom always become a gift to those around us. Amen.
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