Have We Not Power

1 Corinthians 9:4-5

Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Paul asked a very critical question that every believer ought to consider. He asked, Have we not power…? Paul understood that we have soul liberty as a believer. As a believer, I have the right to do everything that I want to do. In other words, God does not make me His robot to do everything He wants me to do. However, with soul liberty also comes great responsibility to use that liberty rightly. Soul liberty does not mean that there are no consequences to doing wrong; it just means I have the right to choose to do wrong, but I don't have the right to choose the consequences that come with that wrong choice.

Likewise, just because I have soul liberty does not mean I have to use it. I can do what I want to do, but it does not mean I should do what I want to do. Let me share several guides that I use to keep me from misusing soul liberty.

First, will my actions cause others to stumble? Just because I can does not mean that I should. If what I do would cause another believer to stumble, I should not exercise the power to do it. I would hate to think my decisions caused someone to fall into sin. I must guard every action and ask myself if what I am doing would lead another to do wrong.

Second, will my actions bring reproach to the name of Christ? I do not want anything in my life to bring a blot to God’s name. You have to remember that the only picture of Christ the world will see is the believer’s life; therefore, I must be careful not to do anything that would cause the lost to see Christ in the wrong manner.

Third, will my actions change my direction? I have often said that direction is more important than position. My position may be right at the moment, even if my direction is wrong. My direction is where I am pointed. I may be positionally right, but if I am directionally wrong, I will one day be positionally wrong. Therefore, I must be careful not to do anything that would cause me to change my spiritual direction. My choices are mine to make, but I want to be sure that I make the choices that keep me going spiritually down the right path that I have been walking for years.

Fourth, will my actions distract me from reaching the lost? The primary mission of the believer is to be a soul winner. Anything that would keep me from soul winning would not be a right decision for me to make. For instance, I travel and preach in other churches, but if my travels keep me from being a personal soul winner, I should cancel my travels and be a personal soul winner. Anything that would keep you from being a soul winner should not be done, even if the thing you want to do is not wrong.

Fifth, will my actions lead the next generation the wrong direction. I never want the next generation to use me as their excuse for compromising. Therefore, I must always ask myself if my actions or decisions will point the next generation to the wrong way of living or serving God. For instance, involving myself in politics is not wrong as a pastor, but it could cause the next generation to think politics is more important than the call of God. My friend, we must make sure that everything we do points the next generation to serve God in the manner that was handed to us.