Romans 14:20: Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.
On account of food, do not tear down the work of God. Of course the believer has the liberty to eat meat or abstain from it—but neither will commend him to God. We are not to tear down the work of God in the heart of some weak believer for the sake of some physical gratification. That old bromide is active: one man’s porridge is another man’s poison. Esau, for instance, had no regard for God or for his birthright. He exchanged it for a bowl of soup. Well, don’t sell your birthright just to satisfy your appetite. 1
Application
- What kind of work is God currently doing in your life?
- You have liberty, but what is your responsibility towards another Christian who would stumble around your use of liberty? (Give a real example from your life.) Did this cause you to despise or judge or love your fellow Christian when you did not use your liberty for their sake?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for liberating me from sin so I would be free to serve others and not myself.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 9-16) (electronic ed., Vol. 43). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.