QT 1/3/2025 Rom 14:19-23, Loving others is more important than my freedom

Romans 14:19–23 (ESV) —

19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

 

NOTE: Verse 19 is a simple principle -- pursue those things that make for peace and mutual upbuilding. If you know that your activity is going to cause another believer problems, then the right thing to do is to NOT do that activity. Mounce says it well:

 

While freedom is a right, it is not a guide for conduct. Love serves that purpose. Rights are to be laid aside in the interest of love.”836

836 Mounce, pp. 257-58.

 

In the west, and especially in the United States we have elevated our freedom to the status of a god. In reality, we have elevated ourselves to a god by demanding our right to freedom. What an ugly thing that is!

 

Yes, our freedom is important to us, but for a Christian, it is trumped by our commitment to others first (love for others), which is out of our commitment to Jesus (love for God). Other people are more important than my individual exercise of a freedom. I can give something up, if it will protect another believer's faith.

 

PONDER:

1. What are activities that I engage in that might hurt the faith of others?
2. Am I willing to love others by discontinuing the activity for the sake of peace?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to recognize those things that might bother some other believer in the Lord. I may not even recognize the issue. Open my eyes.