Must All I Do and Say Edify?

[Tim Felten]

Am I to do only that which edifies (see Strong's Greek # 3618 & 19) myself or others? What about leisure time? Is it a sin if I am doing something "unedifying"? (see 1 Corinthinas 10:23)

[Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton)]

I think it falls into the 1 Cor 10:31 "whether therefore ye eat or sleep or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God" bit. I think leisure time or even sleep does us good and recharges us so that we can do more for Him. It's only wrong when it gets out of balance.

Daniel

[karl kleinpaste]

I have a friend who once slipped into the "must avoid all `dead works' at any cost" mentality.

Abruptly he decided that reading the Sunday comics, going for a solo bike ride, or reading science fiction was not a suitable way to spend his time. Reading the Sunday religion section, going on a bike ride with someone else so as to talk religion/faith/churchy things, and reading creationism reviews were all OK.

That lasted about a month, by which time he had become somewhat unpleasant to be near.

He realized that leisure time can be as important as any other time. And he (re-?)discovered scripture references where Jesus withdrew from crowds, sometimes alone and sometimes with the disciples.

[joanne guarnieri]

How narrow is your definition of "edify"?

[Tim Felten]

As to my definition of edify...something that in some way shape or form builds up God's kingdom. This could be a wide variety of things (and not limited to these either) from feeding myself physically (i.e., taking care of God's temple) to helping a weary brother with some spiritual woe. And there's lots more ways one could edify. What about doing something for no other reason than to do something, though? -Not a vacation from over-work, not spending together-time, simply doing something for no other reason than because you want to (perhaps from boredom). Feeling uneasy because you do that? Should you be (feeling uneasy, that is)? I'm not saying it's wrong or right, just getting ya'll's take on it.

[Apolojedi (Daniel Eaton)]

They way I look at it, even God took a break and rested on the 7th day. Isn't following His example edifying?

Daniel

[Michael Ballai]

I already sense you're getting too preoccupied with this and that starts putting you into legalism.

I remember reading one theologian who was in the middle of some conference weighing all the heavy matters when he just muttered something about just going to have a Coke. We get too full of ourselves when God simply wants us to cast all our cares on Him. God's perfectly happy when you toss a hook in the water to catch a fish. You can learn a lot about God's patience that way.

[joanne guarnieri]

There are a lot of ways to enjoy life, and to take joy in life. Being joyful, and enjoying, are edifying not only to the joyful person, but to the people around that person. Just think of the happiest person you know. Don't you want to be near them? Doesn't being with them make you feel good inside? So enjoying and being joyful edifies.

So does being mindful of others, being kind and gracious, loving and caring for all life (people, animals, plants, the earth, all life). Being gentle, yet bold with the truth, being quick to forgive and slow to get angry, being ready for adventure and at the same time prudent....

Who you are will edify far more than what you do. Make everything that you choose to do edifying by being full of the Spirit, always ready for the teachable moment, the gospel moment.

Living intentionally, which I think is part of your question, means knowing what your intentions are. Sometimes a person needs to rest, so rest intentionally. If you're bored, that would be something to think about. Find the source for that before just alleviating it.

[Jason]

Context, my friend. Context.
Paul wasn't speaking of our every activity there, but specifically our activity as related to those things that are questionable.
Should I eat meat offered in sacrifice to idols? It is sold cheaply in the market.
"Sure. No problem. Eat all that you wish."
What if my brother is tempted by that to go to the idol's temple because he saw me eating that which was offered in sacrifice to idols?
"You are free to eat it, but it is better that you do what edifies your brother. I'd recommend that you not eat that meat in his presence if it tempts him to sin."
What about drinking wine?
"If it tempts your brother to get drunk because he sees you use your liberty, seek to edify him instead of exercising your liberty."

I think you get the drift. Not every activity, but every activity by which I could tempt my weaker brother to sin. I should rather seek to edify him than to edify myself by asserting my liberty and my "rights".

[Tim Felten]

Jason, I agree to a certain extent. Paul does seem to be addressing this specific issue in chapters 8-10, and I agree with you on that aspect. However, (and I could be wrong of course), but he seems also to be using this issue of eating foods sacrificed to idols as an illustration of a much broader issue (10:31). He seems to be using it as a generalizing prinicipal of Christian conduct. This idea seems to be taught elsewhere in the letter (6:12; 8:13; 10:23; 31-33; 11:16) and elsewhere in Scripture (by Paul incidently). In Ephesians 4:29, we are clearly commanded to speak only that which edifies. (And this is directed to everyone) Paul seems to cast further light on how our conduct ought to be when he says "do all to the glory of God" (v. 32). So then, what about time alone? How should it be spent? Well, here are some thoughts of mine, and you can take 'em or leave 'em, but perhaps before asking myself, "Is what I'm doing honoring God?", maybe we should be asking, like Joanne was pointing out, "Why am I doing this?" For example, Am I shirking any known responsiblity? Am I being anti-social, doing this in order to avoid others? Am I ____? (and you can fill in the blank) The direction I am understanding Scripture to be leading us in is to not only edify others in all we say and do, but even more generally, to glorify God in all things. How can I glorify God "doing nothing?" Well, in some ways this statement is somewhat misleading because we are always doing something (sleeping, sitting, drooling while stairing at the wall). Boredom is an attitude, not a state of being. Is that a godly attitude? Seems to me be bordering on grumbling and complaining. Really, I think that we can, through the power of the Holy Spirit, glorify God literally in "all things" otherwise we would not have been told to do so.

Jason said:

Context, my friend. Context.
Paul wasn't speaking of our every activity there, but specifically our activity as related to those things that are questionable.
Should I eat meat offered in sacrifice to idols? It is sold cheaply in the market.
"Sure. No problem. Eat all that you wish."
What if my brother is tempted by that to go to the idol's temple because he saw me eating that which was offered in sacrifice to idols?
"You are free to eat it, but it is better that you do what edifies your brother. I'd recommend that you not eat that meat in his presence if it tempts him to sin."
What about drinking wine?
"If it tempts your brother to get drunk because he sees you use your liberty, seek to edify him instead of exercising your liberty."

I think you get the drift. Not every activity, but every activity by which I could tempt my weaker brother to sin. I should rather seek to edify him than to edify myself by asserting my liberty and my "rights".

[Tim Felten]

As to being preoccupied with this issue...Michael, shouldn't we be preoccupied with obeying God. However, you have an excellent point, a very excellent point. We most definately need to be ballanced in are approach to this, avoiding at all costs the disease of legalism. If what is being said (by me...and the Scriptures, I think) is true, then how are we to obey it? It should be noted that I am not sitting here confessing my "sin" of "not edifyingly" living out each moment, nor am I suggesting to live that way. The question in my mind right now is not "are we to edify in 'all' things?", but "how and with out being legalistic?" I think the answer lies in something Joanne said (once again, lol thanks Joanne), something huge: being filled with the Spirit. If we are to be continualy filled (contolled; notice it's an action needing repeating) with the Spirit then it follows, then, that we are to live edifyingly always, for He is the One at work (Philippians 2:13). Am I suggesting then that it is a sin to do "nothing for no good reason." Mmm... Yes. Why? Because if we are lead by the Spirit of God, we should be living purposefully. Am I going to tell you what that is? No. Only when we are led by the Spirit can we truly live lives pleasing to God. So then, don't be so concerned about being edifying (for then you will be approaching in your own strength), but be filled with the Spirit, the rest will follow.

[joanne guarnieri]

Amen, brother

[Jason]

Tim,
You are correct.
I wrote in that particular manner to provide a sort of counter balance. One can go so far in being accommodating that they never minister to themselves and their families. That would be disastrous.
By the time we do get to the end of 1Cor 10 the tone has changed to reflect that we should do all to honor God, thus seeking to please all that we might rescue all.
As a pastor, I appreciate your concern in this area. I wish I had more folks who had such concerns.

Tim Felten said:

Jason, I agree to a certain extent. Paul does seem to be addressing this specific issue in chapters 8-10, and I agree with you on that aspect. However, (and I could be wrong of course), but he seems also to be using this issue of eating foods sacrificed to idols as an illustration of a much broader issue (10:31). He seems to be using it as a generalizing prinicipal of Christian conduct. This idea seems to be taught elsewhere in the letter (6:12; 8:13; 10:23; 31-33; 11:16) and elsewhere in Scripture (by Paul incidently). In Ephesians 4:29, we are clearly commanded to speak only that which edifies. (And this is directed to everyone) Paul seems to cast further light on how our conduct ought to be when he says "do all to the glory of God" (v. 32). So then, what about time alone? How should it be spent? Well, here are some thoughts of mine, and you can take 'em or leave 'em, but perhaps before asking myself, "Is what I'm doing honoring God?", maybe we should be asking, like Joanne was pointing out, "Why am I doing this?" For example, Am I shirking any known responsiblity? Am I being anti-social, doing this in order to avoid others? Am I ____? (and you can fill in the blank) The direction I am understanding Scripture to be leading us in is to not only edify others in all we say and do, but even more generally, to glorify God in all things. How can I glorify God "doing nothing?" Well, in some ways this statement is somewhat misleading because we are always doing something (sleeping, sitting, drooling while stairing at the wall). Boredom is an attitude, not a state of being. Is that a godly attitude? Seems to me be bordering on grumbling and complaining. Really, I think that we can, through the power of the Holy Spirit, glorify God literally in "all things" otherwise we would not have been told to do so.

Jason said:

Context, my friend. Context.
Paul wasn't speaking of our every activity there, but specifically our activity as related to those things that are questionable.
Should I eat meat offered in sacrifice to idols? It is sold cheaply in the market.
"Sure. No problem. Eat all that you wish."
What if my brother is tempted by that to go to the idol's temple because he saw me eating that which was offered in sacrifice to idols?
"You are free to eat it, but it is better that you do what edifies your brother. I'd recommend that you not eat that meat in his presence if it tempts him to sin."
What about drinking wine?
"If it tempts your brother to get drunk because he sees you use your liberty, seek to edify him instead of exercising your liberty."

I think you get the drift. Not every activity, but every activity by which I could tempt my weaker brother to sin. I should rather seek to edify him than to edify myself by asserting my liberty and my "rights".