For these areas that are a matter of indifference, we cannot go back to the Ten Commandments and point out the particular commandment that tells us what we either should or should not do. For matters of indifference we need to think about the principles that are involved for the specific issue, and recognize that people’s consciences might approach a subject differently, and both are correct because the Bible does not pronounce on what they must and must not do in that case. That is what Paul means when he says in verse 23, “Everything is permissible.” If this is not something that violates the moral law of God, the conscience of the individual must not be bound in this area. That is the first principle that Paul lays down.
From there, however, Paul goes on to develop a second principle, which we also saw from the previous two chapters. This principle is important because it begins to narrow down the first principle a little bit. While Paul says that everything is permissible in these matters of indifference, he then finished his thought by adding that not everything is beneficial (v. 23). Just because you are able to do a certain thing does not necessarily mean that you should. And if your conscience is troubling you about something that is permissible, the right thing to do is to avoid it.
The third principle, also seen in chapter 8, is repeated in a different way when he says in 1 Corinthians 10:23 that “not everything is constructive.” Here he has in mind the other person. Not everything is beneficial for me, but not everything is constructive for the other person either. He makes that meaning clearer with what he says immediately after in verse 24: “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” In other words, there are lots of things I can do that God does not condemn. And many of those things that God does not condemn do not necessarily hurt me. But sometimes some of those things that you are otherwise free to do hurt another person, and at that point you have to say that you are not here simply to do whatever it is that pleases you. Even with regard to matters of indifference, you have a certain spiritual responsibility to those who are your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
There are things that you may be able to do, and which may not harm you, but may be very harmful in the life of someone else, someone God has put you in contact with or—what is even more serious—someone for whom God has given you a particular responsibility. There are things that parents ought not to do for the sake of their children. There are things that officers in the church ought not to do for the sake of those who are in the church, and so on. Paul says that when Christians talk about freedom, you have to begin to understand it in spiritual terms. You must recognize that our freedom, while it is true freedom to function in these areas, is restricted somewhat for the sake of our own well-being and also that of others.
There is a fourth principle found in verse 31. Paul gets through all of these guidelines for the conduct of Christians in doubtful things, and then he sums it up by saying, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” And if you do that, you are not going to cause anyone else to stumble. It brings me back to the point of my introduction when I said that real freedom is found in terms of our ability to do that for which God has created us. We were created to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. If you approach your life in this way, and if your relationships with other people are governed by that principle, the Lord will be honored, and you will enjoy Him and all the joys that He imparts to men and women.
