Romans 14:20 — “For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.”

Paul’s words strike directly at our priorities. No personal liberty is valuable enough to hinder the work God is doing in another person’s life. We may have complete freedom in Christ concerning something, but if practicing that freedom becomes an obstacle to another believer, Paul teaches us to lay that liberty aside.

This becomes especially important when another Christian has weaknesses we may not share. What one believer can handle within the boundaries of Christian liberty may be a serious stumbling block for someone else. Paul uses food and drink as examples but then broadens the principle to anything that could cause a brother to stumble, be offended, or become weak.

Our actions and words affect other Christians. Even children are watching what we do, and what they see us practice can give legitimacy in their minds for doing the same thing. Christian maturity is therefore not demonstrated merely by knowing what we are free to do. Sometimes maturity is demonstrated by willingly surrendering a right because we care more about another person’s spiritual welfare.

That should matter to us because it matters to God. The work God is accomplishing in another believer’s life is more important than our insistence upon exercising every freedom available to us.

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