What to do with non-evil fleshly and spiritual things?

Summary:

The term "FLESHLY [sarkikos 4559 in Greeek]" (or "carnal") does not necessarily mean evil. 

The Bible presents differences between things that can be described as fleshly (in a non-evil sense), and things that can be described as spiritual (in a non-evil sense).

For more information:

What can be differences between non-evil fleshly and spiritual things?:
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What should be done with things that are fleshly (in a non-evil sense) and things that are spiritual (in a non-evil sense)? 

There may be different principles to know on how to manage both:

1) Spiritual things (in a non-evil sense) are in principle to be prioritized over fleshly things (in a non-evil sense).

2) Fleshly things (in a non-evil sense) can be done: 

→ 2) a) If some people may be prevented from receiving spiritual things (in a non-evil sense) without them.

→ 2) b) If it prevents people from doing evil things.

You can find more details below:

1) Spiritual things (in a non-evil sense) are to be prioritized:

Spiritual things (in a non-evil sense) are in principle to be prioritized over fleshly things (in a non-evil sense).

Matthew 12:

It is written about Jesus that "While He (was) still speaking (to) the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were-standing outside, seeking to-speak (to) Him. And someone said (to) Him, “BEHOLD, YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR BROTHERS ARE-STANDING OUTSIDE, SEEKING TO-SPEAK (TO) YOU”. But the (One), having-responded, said (to) the (ones) speaking (to) Him, “WHO IS MY MOTHER AND WHO ARE MY BROTHERS?” And having-stretched-out His hand TOWARD HIS DISCIPLES, He-said “BEHOLD, MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS! For WHOEVER DOES THE WILL (OF) MY FATHER in (the) heavens, HE IS MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER”." (Matthew 12:46-50).

Jesus prioritized here His spiritual family (in a non-evil sense) over His fleshly family (in a non-evil sense).

For more information:

From fleshly family to spiritual family:
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John 4:

It is written about Jesus that "IN THE MEANTIME THE DISCIPLES WERE-ASKING HIM, SAYING “RABBI, EAT”. BUT the (One) said (to) them, “I have food to-eat that you do not know (about)”. So the disciples were-saying to one-another, “Someone did not bring Him (something) to-eat, (did he)?” Jesus says (to) them, “MY FOOD IS THAT I-MAY-DO THE WILL (OF) THE (ONE) HAVING-SENT ME, AND ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK" (John 4:31-34).

Jesus prioritized here eating spiritual food (in a non-evil sense) over fleshly food (in a non-evil sense).

For more information:

From fleshly food to spiritual food:
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2) a) People may be prevented from receiving spiritual things (in a non-evil sense):

If some people may be prevented from receiving spiritual things (in a non-evil sense) because of the absence of some fleshly things (in a non-evil sense), then those fleshly things (in a non-evil sense) may be done to serve those people.

Acts 16:

It is written: "(a) certain disciple was there, TIMOTHY (by) name, (the) son (of a) believing Jewish woman, but (of a) Greek father, who was-being-attested by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. PAUL wanted this (one) to-go-forth with him. And having-taken (him), HE-CIRCUMCISED HIM BECAUSE-OF THE JEWS BEING IN THOSE PLACES, for they all knew that his father was (a) Greek" (Acts 16:1-3). Here PAUL CIRCUMCISED (in the flesh) TIMOTHY. 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7 that: "Has anyone been-called in uncircumcision? LET-HIM NOT BE-CIRCUMCISED. CIRCUMCISION IS NOTHING and uncircumcision is nothing" (1 Corinthians 7:18-19). Paul already indicated that being CIRCUMCISED (in the flesh) was "NOTHING" (1 Corinthians 7:19), but because it would have prevented "THE JEWS BEING IN THOSE PLACES" (Acts 16:3) from receiving spiritual things (in a non-evil sense) from Paul and Timothy, Paul decided to do that.

Paul wrote 2 chapters later in 1 Corinthians 9: "(while) being free from all (people), I-ENSLAVED MYSELF (TO) ALL IN-ORDER-THAT I-MIGHT-GAIN THE MORE. Indeed I-BECAME (TO) THE JEWS AS (A) JEW, IN-ORDER-THAT I-MIGHT-GAIN JEWS; (to) the (ones) under (the) Law, as under (the) Law, not being myself under (the) Law, in-order-that I-might-gain the (ones) under (the) Law" (1 Corinthians 9:19-20).

For more information:

From fleshly Jew to spiritual Jew:
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Acts 18:

It is written about PAUL that "he-went to CORINTH. And having-found (a) certain Jew, Aquila (by) name, (a) Pontian (by) nationality, recently having-come from Italy because Claudius (had) ordered all the Jews to-depart from Rome, and Priscilla his wife, he-went (to) them. And because-of being the same-trade, HE-WAS-staying with them and WORKING, for they-were TENT-MAKERS (by) trade" (Acts 18:1-3). Here when PAUL was in CORINTH HE WAS WORKING, and other people too, as TENT MAKERS. 

Paul indicated to the Corinthians that HE WORKED while in Corinth (as a TENT MAKER as indicated in Acts 18) to provide material resources for himself to not be a hinderance for them to receive spiritual things (as he could instead have had the right to receive from them material resources), as he wrote: "If we sowed SPIRITUAL (THINGS to) you, (is it a) great (thing) if we shall-reap FLESHLY (THINGS from) you? If others partake of (this) right (over) you, (should) we not more? Nevertheless, WE-DID NOT MAKE-USE-OF THIS RIGHT. BUT WE-ARE-BEARING ALL (THINGS), in-order-that we-might NOT GIVE ANY HINDRANCE (TO) THE GOOD-NEWS (OF) CHRIST" (1 Corinthians 9:11-12).

For more information:

From fleshly work to spiritual work:
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2) b) People can be prevented from doing evil things:

If some people can be prevented from doing EVIL things by instead doing fleshly things (in a non-evil sense), then this may be done.

1 Corinthians 7:

Paul wrote concerning marriage in the flesh: "BECAUSE-OF SEXUAL-IMMORALITIES, let each (man) have his (own) WIFE, and let each (woman) have (her) own HUSBAND" (1 Corinthians 7:2), "BUT I-am-saying this BY-WAY-OF CONCESSION, not by-way-of command" (1 Corinthians 7:6). Paul here wrote that MARRIAGE IN THE FLESH can be done as a concession to prevent EVIL things such as "SEXUAL-IMMORALITIES" (1 Corinthians 7:2).

Paul also wrote: "I-say (to) the UNMARRIED and the widows, (IT IS) GOOD (FOR) THEM IF THEY-REMAIN AS I-ALSO (AM). BUT IF THEY-ARE NOT INNER-MIGHTED, let-them-marry" (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). Paul here wrote that if someone does not manage to remain UNMARRIED because of EVIL things that couod be done as a result of not being "INNER-MIGHTED" (1 Corinthians 7:9), then they may have a MARRIAGE IN THE FLESH.

For more information:

From fleshly marriage to spiritual marriage:
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Ephesians 5:

Paul wrote: "no-one ever HATED HIS (OWN) FLESH, but HE-NOURISHES AND CHERISHES IT" (Ephesians 5:29).

Paul here said that people do not in principle do the EVIL thing to HATE their OWN FLESH such that they would not "NOURISH" (Ephesians 5:29) it anymore for example. 

By inference, if we take this principle outside of the context of that verse, people would want to NOURISH their OWN BODY with FOOD allowing them to continue on living in their OWN BODY. To prevent the EVIL thing of HATING their OWN FLESH by NOT nourishing it anymore at all and die because of that, it can be inferred that eating FOOD to allow the FLESH to be nourished and continue on can be expected to be done, even though this FOOD would not be SPIRITUAL FOOD.

For more information:

From fleshly food to spiritual food:
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2 Thessalonians 3:

Paul wrote: "we-commanded this (to) you, that “if anyone does NOT WANT TO-WORK, neither let-him-eat”. FOR we-are-hearing (of) some among you walking disorderly, NOT WORKING AT-ALL, BUT BEING(-BUSYBODIES)-CONCERNING(-ONES)-WORKING. Now (to) such (ones) we-command and exhort in (the) Lord Jesus Christ that (while) WORKING with quietness, THEY-EAT THEIR (OWN) BREAD" (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).

Paul here addressed people who did not want to work at all (not working any NON-EVIL FLESHLY THINGS, and by extension they would probably also not be working NON-EVIL SPIRITUAL THINGS). Instead they were EVIL, being BUSYBODIES concerning the ones working, taking their bread instead of eating their own bread. To prevent those EVIL things, Paul told them to do NON-EVIL FLESHLY THINGS such as "WORKING with quietness" (2 Thessalonians 3:12) and "EAT THEIR (OWN) BREAD" (2 Thessalonians 3:12).

For more information:

From fleshly work to spiritual work:
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From fleshly food to spiritual food:
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1 Timothy 5:

Paul wrote: "be-declining YOUNGER widows. For when THEY-GROW-WANTON (AGAINST) CHRIST, they-want to-marry" (1 Timothy 5:11), "they-are-learning (to be) NON-WORKING, (while) going-around the houses. And NOT ONLY NON-WORKING, BUT ALSO BABBLERS AND BUSYBODIES" (1 Timothy 5:13). "THEREFORE, I-WANT YOUNGER (widows) to-marry, TO-BEAR-CHILDREN, to-manage-the-house, to-give (to) the (one) opposing no opportunity for-the-sake-of reviling. FOR SOME ALREADY TURNED-ASIDE AFTER SATAN" (1 Timothy 5:14-15). 

Paul here addressed people who did not want to work at all (not working any NON-EVIL FLESHLY THINGS, and by extension they would probably also not be working NON-EVIL SPIRITUAL THINGS). Instead they were EVIL, being "BABBLERS AND BUSYBODIES" (1 Timothy 5:13). To prevent those EVIL things, Paul told them to do NON-EVIL FLESHLY THINGS such as "TO-BEAR-CHILDREN" (1 Timothy 5:14) with someone they would marry. 

For more information:

From fleshly family to spiritual family:
Click here

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