SELFLESS

“It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.” Romans 14:21

The fourteenth chapter of Romans is more about worship and proper Christian perspective than it is about food and drink. The food and drink, whether partaking or abstaining, is only a probing vehicle addressed in order to amplify the attitude and application with regard to Christian fellowship and true spiritual worship. The apostle says this in the seventeenth verse: “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We were created to worship God, as Paul mentions to the Corinthians in his first letter, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Therefore, if our attitudes, our actions, and our associated communication causes a fellow believer to stumble in their faith… or even to be distracted from worshiping, we would be better off without the food, drink, or whatever it may be. We may abstain either temporarily or permanently, as each believer prayerfully considers and conducts himself according to conscience. Paul reminds the Philippians in the second chapter of his letter to them, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” This is a mighty gospel principle, as it reflects the selfless character of our Lord and Master, Jesus Messiah. Christ’s own interest was His only interest— the glory of His heavenly Father. His desire for His people was that our interests be one, united, and singular— God’s glory through Christ’s exaltation. If we are eating, drinking, or whatever we do unto Christ, it should not be a stumbling block for others. If we do those things to gratify self, it will cause others to stumble. As we decrease so that Christ increases in our lives, there will be less self to contend with, and there will be more abounding glory to God through others because of Christ in us.

It’s good to cut out this or that,
If stumbling it does cause;
It keeps our unity on track
As love covers our flaws.

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Today's M'Cheyne Reading Schedule: 2/11 - Gen 44; Mark 14; Job 10; Rom 14

If you don’t have one, get a free PDF copy of Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s “Daily Bread” Bible Reading Calendar by Clicking Here.

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