1 Corinthians 8:7–13 (ESV) —
7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
NOTE: In our day and age of freedom and individual rights, we chaff at the idea that our actions are limited by another's conscience. And the reason we chaff at that idea, if we are willing to admit it, is that we are selfish. We really only care about ourselves, and we don't like have to limit our actions because of another person. We use stupid statements like, "it's not fair," and "it's not my conviction." Yet, if we had a family member that had a deathly response to fragrances, we would do all we could to protect the person from fragrances, and we wouldn't think twice about our "freedoms" or "rights." But because we don't really love others, we chaff that our freedom should somehow be restricted by another's conviction. What selfishness -- oh, how we need a wakeup call!
PONDER:
- Do I realize my own selfishness?
- Am I willing to change my behavior in order to protect the faith of a younger believer?
PRAYER: Father, we were born into sin and selfishness. We pretend that we are not selfish, but we are. Help us to continue to see our deep selfishness, and continue to repent every time it is exposed. Have mercy on us.
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