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But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
I Corinthians 8:9, NLT
Periodically, I like to drink a good glass of wine when I am out to dinner with my spouse or a good friend. But I always feel a slight sense of discomfort when I hold a glass of wine in my hands; discomfort that if a less mature Christian sees me drinking alcohol, they might be offended by my actions.
Although the Corinthian Christians were allowed to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols, there were some believers who wondered if the eating of such meat meant they were somehow participating in the worship of pagan idols. Paul addressed their concern by letting them know that while there were some believers who were not bothered by eating meat once sacrificed to idols, for those who were bothered, the responsibility of the mature believer was to avoid eating the meat once offered to idols.
According to a footnote in my Bible, "Christian freedom is inseparably tied to Christian responsibility". With this in mind, how can mature Christians be free to live their lives while still being sensitive to the needs of less mature believers? Here are five questions to consider when making choices on sensitive issues:
- Does it help my witness for Christ? (9:19-22)
- Does it violate a specific command in scripture and thus cause me to sin? (v.10:12)
- Is it the best and most beneficial course of action? (10:23,33)
- Am I thinking only of myself, or also about others? (10:24,33)
- Would it cause someone else to sin? (10:32)*
Thank God daily for the freedom he has given you through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The freedom to live life not just for yourself, but for others.
Sharing the Word,
Jeaninne
Today's prayer: Father, thank you for the freedom you have given me through your son, Jesus Christ. Freedom to live. Freedom to love. Freedom to serve. Amen.
*Source: The above five questions were extracted from commentary given on I Corinthians 10:23,24 in The Life Application Study Bible, third edition. Page 1994.
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