So That No One May Stumble

Read 1 Corinthians 8:9-13.

In our freedom, we should avoid doing anything that may cause a brother or sister in Christ to stumble. 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. Paul gives us three reasons we must exercise restraint in how we behave. First, knowledge is not the only issue at hand (see vv. 1-3). You may have solid doctrine, but is there a crack in your love? You may be mature in knowledge, but are you mature in love for others? Our knowledge must be tempered with love.

Second, not everyone has the same knowledge (see vv. 4-7). Mature believers may have fuller understanding of the Christian faith, but not all Christians are at the same stage in their walk with Christ. So we should pursue right belief but also carry that right knowledge over to pursue right relationships.

Finally, wounding the conscience of another because of carelessness is sinful (see v. 8). If an immature Christian sees a mature Christian doing something that the weaker believes is wrong, it could wound their conscience. So the mature Christian, strong in faith, has the responsibility to not offend the weak, and this requires loving sacrifice.

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.

Prayer: Father, thank You for setting me free from my sin and selfishness. May I lay aside my own preferences to lift others up according to Your will. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.