1 Corinthians 8:9-11, Shall the Weak Brother Perish, for Whom Christ died?

1 Corinthians 8:9-11 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

A truly soul-searching question for the believer to realise that he has been bought by Christ, through His death, and he no longer live for himself but for a testimony to the people around him. He provides an influence through all that he does. And the fact that he goes to sit in the idol’s temple and eat food sacrificed to idols will not make him a better Christian. How edifying can that be? This is the question that the Apostle Paul is bringing to us.

If it is going to stumble someone, it is best that we refrain from it. This is the matter at hand. Can we not exercise restrain for the sake of the brother’s conscience? That we no longer live to ourselves is a change in the believer’s mindset, a sanctifying change. We watch out for the spiritual well-being of others around us. We will be willing to exercise self-control and discipline so that the conscience of others may not be weakened!

From his book Daily Gems comes this story by D.L. Moody: “A blind man in a great city was found sitting at a street corner with a lantern beside him. Someone went up to him and asked him why he had the lantern, since he was blind and the light of it was the same to him as the darkness. The blind man simply replied, ‘So that no one may stumble over me.’”

We who know Christ, of course, are not blind. But like that man, we too must be providing light so that those who are lost can find their way to heaven. Without the light of Christ shining through us, His followers, they will stumble in their search for peace and satisfaction.¹

May the Lord help His people to be their brother’s keeper. Amen.

¹ http://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/stumbling-blocks/