Romans 14:22, Hast Thou Faith?

Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.

The Apostle Paul directs his attention to the believer who claims to be strong in the faith. He tells such a one, “you better keep between yourself and God that conviction you have!” Do not bring God’s judgment upon yourself by insisting on the exercise of your “liberty” because such insistence will bring harm to a weak fellow- believer (Hendriksen).

The believer who has a matured faith will have the spiritual strength to defer to the weaker believer. Exercise it. God’s blessing will come upon you, the Apostle Paul exhorts, for exercising forbearance. It shows forth the Spirit’s fruit when the believer is able not to take issue with the ways of the weaker believer.

Even such pointed entreaty by the Apostle Paul can sometimes be spurned! “Why should I give in to him?” retorted the “strong” believer. Indeed, such a one is not strong in the faith in the final analysis when he fails to exercise self-restraint and tolerance! Truly, in such insistence, Christian fellowship is undermined and the weak believer stumbled. Such rebellion or sin is against God and the stubborn believer falls into God’s inadvertent displeasure.

May God help His people to bear the fruit of longsuffering. Amen.