There is so much we have yet to learn. Much of life will require constant learning, exposing ourselves to information, knowledge, and experiences which will cause stretching and growth. This will only occur as we remain willing to be taught and have the knowledge imparted to us.
At times my family will ask me for a recipe, or how to cook something. I am terrible with measurements as over the years, I have come to the point of adding ingredients through experience. It’s the pinch of that, and a sprinkle of this method.
Easy for me to do, most hard for others to duplicate. And yet, recipes are needed in order for a dish or meal to turn out well.
Following a recipe may also require some altering for the good of certain ones.
As our family has grown, we have had to take into consideration:
- those needing less salt intake
- those needing less fat
- those with peanut allergies
- those allergic to tree nuts
- those with an allergy to strawberries
In other words, not everything is good for everyone. Paul seemed to know this:
“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.
All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”
(1 Corinthians 10:23, NASB)
Let’s look at this verse in another version to gain deeper insight:
“All things are
legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please],
but
not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome).
All
things are legitimate,
but not all things are constructive [to
character] and edifying [to spiritual life].”
(AMPC)
Here Paul gives us a better recipe for life. Basically, he brings it down to simply this: “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.”
Let’s go back to the food and recipe situation … Strawberries are a fruit which is good, healthy, and packed with vitamins. Yet to the one who is allergic, eating them will then require the use of an EpiPen. Same is true of the one who cannot eat tree nuts; and still the other who cannot eat peanuts.
Some good questions to ask ourselves may be:
- Will this be beneficial, or profitable, in my life?
- Will this be beneficial, or profitable, in the Kingdom?
- Is this good or best, in the eyes of God?
- Will this grow good character?
- Will this deepen my spiritual life?
Much the way we fine tune a recipe for the health of our lives,
we need to do the same spiritually.
Remember: “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.”
Reflection:
Has there been a time you went outside of a recipe and created a disaster? What wisdom have you discovered in Paul’s words?
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
LOL - the first time I made soup beans - I kept thinking, "this isn't right" and added salsa - and whatever else I could think of. Whatever they turned out to be - they were not my husband's idea of soup beans. Next time, I stuck to the recipe! Where you took 1 Cor. 10:23 is so encouraging - just because we can doesn't mean we should - or that it's good for us! (BTW - no matter how many times I make something, I have to look at the recipe - I am terrible with numbers!)
ReplyDeleteLOL- one never knows what will occur when we don't follow the recipe. When baking, I always have the recipe in front of me as I, too, would not remember the measurements accurately.
DeleteWhat a beautiful thought, Joanne! I too following my mom and grandmom's recipe without any measurements. There are just some tweaks to make it better every time, snd so does it goes with life. Just trying to be better than what I was yesterday! That is my idea of recipe for life. Have a fantastic week! Hugs.
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