Romans 14:13-21

“Therefore, let us no longer criticize one another. Instead, decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in your brother’s way. I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. For if your brother is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy that one Christ died for by what you eat. Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats. It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.” Romans 14:13-21.

I have to be very honest with you. This passage of scripture isn’t very popular in the Christian community. Oh, we love the ones that tell us of our freedoms in Christ. All the permissible passages we “amen” and clap for. But when God instructs us to restrict ourselves or die to the flesh and our will, well, we would just like to forget we read that.

The truth is we are very selfish, self-center people. If it doesn’t benefit us we don’t feel the need to apply it to our lives. However, God’s Word isn’t a smorgasbord where we can pick and choose which scriptures we like and which ones we obey.

The passage in Roman is not a message of permission but a lesson on dying to your rights so that others can live.

These verses are challenging you to NOT do what you want. Rather, think of your brother or sister in Christ and not cause them grief.

We are our brother’s keeper and accountable to God for causing our brother or sister to stumble by our actions. Even if we feel justified and don’t feel like our actions are wrong.

The Lord is saying, no matter how right you think you are, if you are harming your brother or sister in Christ you are wrong.

The truth of the matter is, everyone is trying to stand up for their rights. Jesus, our Savior, laid down his rights. If anyone was ever right about anything it was Jesus. But for our sake, he gave up his rights. He who new no sin became sin. He died to himself. Jesus laid down his divinity to become a man. He could have picked his divinity back up at any point and destroyed us all. But, he thought of you and me. He cared about our salvation. He loved us.

We are called as Christians to love one another. To be imitators of Christ. Romans directs us to lay down our rights for the sake of others. To build up each other instead of destroying one another by our freedoms.

Take time and ask the Lord if you are being a stumbling block to those around you. Ask him to help you die to yourself so that others may live. Remember, you might be right, and still be wrong!