Romans 14 - 10.21.24

Scripture

Romans 14:21 

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.”

Observation

Paul is talking about Christian liberty and not using our freedoms as a means to make another brother or sister in the faith stumble (based on individual conscience). For example, some of the meat that the believers ate were apparently sacrificed to idols. The believers who did not eat the meat felt that it shouldn’t have been eaten because it was sacrificed to idols and therefore, unclean. (Drinking wine was also mentioned, as unclean for some believers, but clean for others—that’s still a matter of dispute today!)

Verse 5 is another matter in the church that Paul had to address, which is also current to today. It had to do with thinking that one day was more sacred than another day, while some believers believed that all days were alike! That reminds me of the Sabbath. Some people think that it must be Sunday, while others think it should be Saturday, yet others treat all days alike, so it could be any day in the week! 

Paul says, “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food (Verse 5).” Basically, the church of God and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in the faith should not be destroyed over secondary issues! 

Application

Our liberties should be used to build each other up, not tear each other down. (David Guzik on enduringword.com)

We all have liberties in the faith. Based on Scripture, that includes what we eat, what we drink (aka alcohol) and what day we consider holy. Regardless of our liberties in the faith, we are not called to be judgmental towards someone who takes a differing stance than we do on these issues. In verse 22, it says, “So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God.” 

There are so many other secondary issues that have caused division among brothers and sisters in the faith. At the end of the day, we need to operate in love towards each other and humbly serve one another in love by what we choose to do with our “freedoms.”

“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.” (Verses 17-18)

Prayer

Dear Lord, I know that the enemy uses so many tactics to separate Christ followers and the Church. Many of these are secondary issues, unrelated to You, salvation or sin. I pray that we would not judge one another based on what we believe, but rather serve each other humbly in love and consider each other better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Please reveal to me how I could better serve my brothers and sisters in Christ. May I always use my freedoms to build others up, instead of tear them down. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi