Bible text: 1st Corinthian 10: 21-26 Common English Bible (CEB)
“. 21 You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you can’t participate in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or should we make the Lord jealous? We aren’t stronger than he is, are we?
23 Everything is permitted, but everything isn’t beneficial. Everything is permitted, but everything doesn’t build others up. 24 No one should look out for their own advantage, but they should look out for each other. 25 Eat everything that is sold in the marketplace, without asking questions about it because of your conscience. 26 The earth and all that is in it belong to the Lord.”
Object Needed(teaching aid): Drivers license
Big Idea: Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should do it.
Doing What's Right
I’m going to talk about something that will one day change your whole life. It’s not a very big object. It’s small—only about an ounce in weight. As a matter of fact, it’s just a piece of paper—not even a full sheet, but a little slip. But this slip of paper will be your first step into a whole new world.
What is it? It’s a learner’s permit. If you have one of these with your name on it, it means you are finally old enough to learn how to drive a car. When you have this piece of paper in hand, you will be able to sit in the driver’s seat, start the car, put it in gear, and drive—so long as you have a licensed driver (a driver having a license) in the car, of course. A learner’s permit is a legal document stating that it is permissible for you to drive. It is one step away from a full-fledged driver’s license. When you have your permit, you’ll learn to drive on your street, park in your compound street or garage and even navigate the interstate (driving from Lagos to Ibadan)
Let me ask you a question: How many of you think it would be wise to take the car out on the interstate your very first time behind the steering? No practice on side streets, no practice on local roads. Just merge onto the interstate and take it up to 120 kilometre per hour. Would that be legal? Sure! If you have a licensed driver in the car, it’s legal. That permit says you are allowed to drive on the interstate. But it would not be a wise decision for an inexperienced driver who has no feel for being behind the wheel to hit the interstate on day one.
The apostle Paul talked about how some things are permissible but not beneficial. As you grow up, you’re going to discover that a lot of things are permissible but not beneficial, just like driving on the interstate for your first driving lesson. When you turn 18, it will be permissible for you to smoke cigarettes, but given the health risks that come with smoking, it would not be beneficial.
You will also be permitted to your live the way you want, taking decision by yourself. But would it be beneficial to put yourself sexual mess which will stop your education or ruined your life?
Having permission to do grown-up things is exciting, but with growing up comes more responsibility. You’re going to find a whole world of things that are permissible. But it’s crucial that you stay close to the Lord so that you’ll know when something permissible may not be beneficial.
Conclusion: I want to tell every children today to please always do what is right. God bless you and happy children’s week.