Questionable Things

by Dr. Ken Matto

 

When something comes into our life that we are not sure how to deal with, what criteria do we use to help us stay on track? I wish to offer eleven questions which may be used to deal with questionable things. I believe if we engage our spiritual thought process before engaging in something questionable, we will rise above individual temptations which come into the life of every believer. It is when we engage our fleshly thought process is when we get into trouble.

 

1) DOES IT CAUSE ME TO LOOK, ACT, OR BE WORLDLY?

(1 John 2:15-16 KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. {16} For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

 

2) IS THERE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THIS THING I WANT TO DO?

(Rom 14:22-23 KJV) Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. {23} And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

 

3) AM I BASING IT JUST ON MY FEELINGS?

(Prov 14:12 KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

4) WHAT ARE MY MOTIVES AS REGARDING CONSCIENCE?

(1 Tim 1:19 KJV) Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

 

5) DOES IT BUILD ME UP IN THE LORD?

(1 Cor 6:12 KJV) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

(1 Cor 10:23 KJV) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

 

6) WILL IT BE A STUMBLINGBLOCK TO OTHER BELIEVERS?

(1 Cor 8:9-13 KJV) But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. {10} For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; {11} And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? {12} But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. {13} Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

 

7) WILL IT HARM MY BODY?

(1 Cor 6:18-20 KJV) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. {19} What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? {20} For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

8) DOES IT GLORIFY GOD?

(1 Cor 10:31 KJV) Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

 

9) CAN I DO IT IN HIS NAME?

(Col 3:17 KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

10) HOW DOES IT APPEAR TO OTHERS?

(1 Th 5:22 KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 

11) DO I WANT TO REAP THIS IN MY CHILD'S LIFE?

(Gal 6:7-8 KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. {8} For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.