Tuesday 17 March 2020
- Bible Book:
- 1 Corinthians
Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. (v. 13)
Psalm: Psalm 18:1-19
Background
Paul continues to drive home his point that Christians have a responsibility to and for other Christians. The freedom in Christ that believers have is not a freedom from this responsibility. Paul states that although it is perfectly safe for him to eat meat sacrificed to idols, if in eating such he would cause a fellow believer to be troubled or risk them slipping, then he would forgo eating it.
The one who knows that there is no harm in eating meat sacrificed to an idol has the right to choose and the right to eat such meat but not if it harms another in the faith.
Furthermore, the Christian has a responsibility to the community of believers. Actions by the believers with no regard for others smacks of individualism. Some would argue that individualism is one of the ‘gods’ of our present age.
To Ponder:
- When you make choices, how often to you consider the effects of your decisions on others in a local or worldwide context?
- To what extent do you think that people should vote, shop, work and spend their leisure time in ways that are considerate of others and the environment?
- Do you think that individualism is a ‘god’ of our present age?