It says in Genesis 3 that Satan, or rather the serpent, was more subtle than any beast of the field. Satan is a deceiver, and we know, according to Matthew 4, that he'll attempt to use the Word to get you off course. This even includes having you do “the right thing” and fulfilling your religious duty. I'm here to tell you that it is important to find the balance in the Word of God.
One of the things that my pastor says about Genesis 3 and the fall of man is that Eve didn't know the Word of God like she should have. She added to the Word of God rather than saying exactly what God said, and that led to her downfall. But if we look a little closer at the fall of man, we'll see that it wasn't just that she added to the Word of God, but it was what she added.
It was clear in Genesis 2 that God told man not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but when we read in Genesis 3 we see that Eve added to that. God never told Eve that she couldn’t touch the tree. God never added that restriction. I'd like to believe that Satan tends to play off things that we believe are forbidden to us, even if those things aren't necessarily forbidden by God in the way that we think they are.
Now, I have to caveat this by referencing Hebrews 12, where it says we have to lay aside the weights that so easily beset us. There are things that are not necessarily sinful that we can and must put aside so that we can do what God called us to do. This same sentiment is echoed in 1 Corinthians 10 when Paul tells the Corinthian church that all things are lawful to him, but not all things are expedient because they don't edify.
It is very important that we are mindful of what we allow ourselves to enjoy—not necessarily because it's sin, but because it can give the appearance of evil to certain people for various reasons. However, the danger is when we call things that are weights, sins.
Playing video games is not a sin, nor is reading your favorite novel. In the same chapter of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul says that eating various meats is okay because the earth is the Lord’s, and idols are nothing. However, he does say that if there is a certain purpose attached to whatever you're doing, that's where the sin comes in—when it's a stumbling block to your brother.
The only thing that was a sin to Eve was the eating of the fruit. Eve could have taken that fruit and made a cup out of it. She could have taken that tree and made a house out of it. She could have burnt the tree bark and made oil for fire if she wanted to. The only thing she could not do by the law of God was to eat of that fruit. But when she added the other restriction, Satan was able to play off of that restriction and get her to desire something that she didn't need to desire.
So, brothers and sisters, learn the Word of God in your restrictions and privileges. Eve could have done anything with that tree other than eat of its fruit. And unless God tells you to do something or not to do something, then it's free game. I know I'm opening the door for a lot here, but the Bible says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. It also says in John 14 that the Holy Spirit will remind you of everything that Jesus taught you, that is, everything that you studied from the Bible.
The Bible also says in Philippians that the Holy Spirit will correct you if you have a mind other than what Christ has to say. So, with all of these things in place, we have to be okay with enjoying the freedoms that God gave us while being mindful of the restrictions and the adjustments that God gives us along the way, which deal with the weights. 1 Timothy 4 does say that we have to rightfully divide the word of truth as we study to show ourselves approved and this includes knowing exactly what our freedoms are and exactly what our restrictions are so that we don't put ourselves in unnecessary bondage by stressing over something that God never restricted us from or taking part in something strictly prohibits.
The Bible covers sin and weights that cause us to sin, but it also covers the fact that we shouldn't allow people to judge our freedom based on their own traditions or opinions. We should always allow God to direct us and He promised that He would do so. However, keep this in mind regarding your freedom: Romans tell us that our freedom is not unto sin but unto righteousness.
As creatives in Christ, it's important understand that God freely gives us the ability to use our creativity to minister His word to others and people we shouldn’t allow the traditions of other to restrict us in following what God says. However, it's also important to make sure that our gifts, along with any other benefits in God, don't take the place of God and cause us to sin. The key here is this: know the Word of God, use it to be your authority, and love people enough to understand where they are and act accordingly. Doing so keeps you right with God, unbound by people's opinions, and immune to Satan's temptation for something that God never said.
Thanks for Sharing With Us The Benefits of TRUTH! May GOD Continue To Bless You 🙏🏽