Edification

I'm learning that I need to stop trying to find out how close the line is to sin.  "Is this top too low cut?," "Is it okay to watch this show?," "Is it really wrong if I tell them how I feel as long as it's truthful?"


Oftentimes, I find myself looking for the line of sin.  "Would it be wrong to do this?" Almost like I want the entire Bible to be written as the Ten Commandments.  If it's sin, then I know to abstain from it. 

If I'm wearing something that even crosses my mind of whether it is modest, what does it hurt to go and change?!  Is it not better to err on the side of caution than to sin?!  Yet so many times, our attitude is, "I can do that.  That's not sin.  The Bible doesn't talk about that."  But our attitude is sin.  Maybe I'm wanting to wear that top because it is so pretty and I love it.  But what would it hurt to wear a high neck top?  I'm not suggesting a line of modesty for you.  Please don't misunderstand me.  That is between you and the Lord.  I'm just saying, if the question pops into your mind, and you're unsure, why do we not steer toward the Lord instead of the world?  Often, we will look around us and justify what we would want to do:  "Well, Sister so and so wore this top last week, so it must be okay." 

It's not about modesty, but about anything in life!  If we purchase that new car, fine.  But we should first ask ourselves, "Is this edifying unto God?"  For some, the answer may be "yes" and others it will be "no." 

But the Bible goes further:

1 Thessalonians 5:22 says to "Abstain from all appearance of evil." 

Ephesians 4:29  "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

My purpose in life is not to just try and not to sin, but my purpose is to bring glory and honor to my Lord and Savior through my life.  He died so that I could live, and I am to take this life that He saved and to use it to please Him.

 

So, I have been convicted of trying to do just that.  I want to live my life so that no one has any question of whom I serve.  I want to serve God and not myself.  Let's think about it for a minute:

1 Corinthians 10:31

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

 

It's not about, "What can I do that will please me and that I can get by with, with God?"  If we are choosing to live a life that is glorifying Him and EDIFYING, then God will bring us pleasures within that.  Sure, we may miss out on some things that the world offers.  In fact, some in the church may think you're nuts....they may say, "There's nothing wrong with that!  You're being too strict!  God wants you to have fun!" 

I want my joy to come FROM the Lord, not create joy, myself, out of things OF this world!  God wants us to be joyful, but HE wants to be the One to bring us our happiness.  We don't have to try and find it on our own.  If we focus on serving Him alone, He will provide opportunities for rest, fun, and pleasure.  But it will be in His timing and in His way.  Isn't it much better that way anyways?!

I want to encourage you that when you find yourself asking, "Is there anything wrong with this?" or "Is this okay?", Start asking yourself, "God, if I do this, wear this, or eat this, will it be edifying to further Your Kingdom?"

I would love to hear your comments below on how you do just this!  How do we overcome our flesh and stay focused 100% upon the Lord?  I want my pleasure to be in Him, and not of things of this world.