The believers in Corinth were free to eat meat that had been offered to idols. But because some believers in the church could not eat the meat in good conscience, knowing where it had come from, it became an important issue. Paul told the more mature believers not to let their own liberty be their focus. Instead, they were to avoid the meat if it would be an offense to a weaker believer. They were to let their love for their brothers and sisters override their rights. Even though the act of eating meat was neither morally nor spiritually wrong, it became wrong when certain believers in Corinth deliberately and carelessly let it violate the weaker consciences of other believers, causing them spiritual harm.

How we exercise our freedom matters. In Christ, we are free not to sin. In Christ, we are free to love one another, humbling ourselves because we trust God to satisfy us completely whatever the sacrifice. So may we let God take charge of our freedom so that we love our brothers and sisters well, that they may not stumble on our account.