God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ
I Corinthians 6:13 Contains the fourth usage of “but God.” Four refers to the material creation and pertains to the earth and things terrestrial. This occurrence deals with meats and the belly which are mundane.
I Corinthians 6:12-13a:
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: (profitable) all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Meats (are) for the belly, and the belly (is) for meats: BUT GOD shall destroy (bring to nought) both it and them….
Not all things are profitable to the believer. It is never profitable for the believer to be brought under the power of anything other than the Word. The believer must not let anything else rule him. The doctrine of Romans instructs one to yield oneself to God and not to sin (Romans 6:13). The believer should never serve anything but God for the wages of doing so is death, and death is ultimately unprofitable.
The body was designed for food to be ingested and digested. This natural and necessary function is profitable. Though it is profitable, it must be kept within the framework for which it was designed. It was never designed to be given preeminence over the Word.
Job had his priorities in order. He esteemed the Word more than his necessary food. In a positive declaration of his walk before God he said:
Job 23:11-12:
My food hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Jesus Christ walked with great sharpness in this area of life. As Jesus traveled from Judea into Galilee he came to the city of Sychar. There he met and conversed with a Samaritan woman at the well. At the beginning of the account of this in John chapter four, there is a parenthesis that sets the stage for the whole incident.
John 4:8:
(For his disciples were none away unto the city to buy meat.)
The disciples were in error. They left the Master alone, and they went into the city to get meat. Therefore they missed one of the great moments in their Master’s ministry. Jesus had such a profound effect on her life that she left her water pot and went into the city and immediately witnessed, saying:
John 4:29-30:
Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
In verse thirty-one the account continues with the return of the disciples.
John 4:31-33:
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
The disciples had missed the principle they chose the physical food and not the spiritual food (Isaiah 55:2). They had not sought the will of God.
John 4:34-35:
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields;. for they are white already to harvest.
Now was the time to harvest, not to eat. Jesus chose to do the will of God. He stayed there two more days and many Samaritans believed (verses 39-41).
Jesus also instructed Mary and Martha regarding the same subject.
Luke 10:38-42:
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Romans chapter fourteen gives the right teaching. The believer must serve Christ in every facet of his life. Meat and drink must be subjugated to the Word and will of God.
Romans 14:17-19:
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 18 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 19 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. It is profitable to follow after things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify another. Meat can not destroy the work of God, but God shall destroy it. Therefore, meat and drink, must be subordinate to the Word. Thereby we will be serving Christ being acceptable to God and approved of men.