“But be careful how you use your freedom. Be sure it doesn’t trip up someone who is weaker than you. Suppose you who have that knowledge are eating in a temple of one of those gods. And suppose someone who has a weak sense of what is right and wrong sees you. Won’t that person become bold and eat what has been offered to statues of gods? If so, then your knowledge destroys that weak brother or sister for whom Christ died. When you sin against other believers in that way, you harm their weak sense of what is right and wrong. By doing that you sin against Christ. So what should I do if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin? I will never eat meat again. In that way, I will not cause them to fall.”
1 Corinthians 8:9-13 NIRV
I wouldn’t say that there are any really profound thoughts here today, just straight forward truths reworded a bit. But this is one of those truths that can be a little harder to live out because our stubborn hearts tend to have a hard time giving up something we enjoy for the sake of another person’s peace of mind, especially when we know that there is absolutely nothing wrong with whatever it is. At least I do! Part of me wants to tell them to go jump in the lake! But Paul explains that doing so causes us to sin against Christ. So, we have to be mindful in the freedoms we enjoy in Christ so that we do not cause someone with a weak sense of right and wrong to stumble. What you are doing may not be wrong but their underdeveloped belief system may still perceive it as such and by watching you do it, maybe even following your example, it could send them into a tailspin- or you may be looked upon as one of those ‘terrible hypocrites’ who so many use as an excuse to stay away from the church. Be mindful of what you do, there is always SOMEONE WATCHING. It’s better to give up willingly a little thing than to be the cause of someone’s fall.
~May the Lord make his face shine upon you and give you peace today!
In the Living Word 