Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The Apostle Paul’s life was given over to serve his Lord and that is translated to doing good for fellow men. He gave his life to the service of God’s people. He shared concerning the dedication that God placed in his heart in Philippians 2:17 (KJV) 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
The word “offence” comes from the root verb “to strike at, to trip”. Here, a negative is expressed – Give none offence. Counsel to inculcate such a habit or way of life that does not stumble others, but look to bless others, seek their well-being and welfare is the thrust of this thought. This offence is measured by a God-given cultivated and heightened conscience, that is built strongly upon the foundation of Scripture.
The actions of the Christian, whatever it may be, is to be done to bring honour to God’s Name. This is the guiding principle for God blessed Christian life. And all that brings honour to our God must concur with His revealed Word. The Christian, therefore, is to be a diligent student of His Word to seek to know God’s will and to do it.
William MacDonald paraphrased well, “Why should I selfishly display my freedom to eat the meat and in so doing be condemned by the other man’s conscience? Why should I expose my freedom to the condemnation of his conscience? Why should I let my good be evil spoken of?…Is a piece of meat so important that I should cause such an offence to a fellow believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?” Indeed, let not then your good be evil spoken of. Romans 14:16 (KJV)
The Apostle Paul instructs the believer who attends a dinner at the invitation of unbelievers to eat the food that is set before him without hesitation after giving thanks for the food. However, if the host explicitly tells the believer that the food set before them has been offered to idols. In such a situation, it will not be a good testimony to the unbelieving host if the believer would take the food offered to the idols. It would tantamount to participating in the worship of the idols to which the food was offered.
The Apostle Paul instructed the believers buy the meat from the market without any rebuke on their conscience to surmise if the meat has previously been offered to idols. The word “shambles” means “a meat market” or “food market”. There should not be any question to any unfaithfulness on their part when they buy the meat and partake it after cooking them.
The man of God seeks not his own benefit but the welfare of his neighbour. He seeks not to enrich himself but that of others. His life is poured out for the good that may be imparted to others.This was Jesus’ life. The love of Christ is manifested in servanthood. May God give us a servant’s heart.
The Apostle Paul tells us that there are some things a Christian does that is not morally wrong, but may not be profitable in the sense that it does not build up others’ faith. In this verse, he urges the Christian to consider the impact of his action on the spiritual life of others around him. If it does not build others in the faith but potentially may be a stumbling to them, he says it is “not expedient” or “not profitable” to engage in it.
In this generation where entertainment and pleasure-seeking are so much a part of lifestyle can the people of God hold fast to follow the Lord in the ways of holiness? Inadvertently, believers come under great pressure to conform to the world. How can the believer remain faithful to his Lord and not incur God’s wrath by any friendship with the world?
The Apostle Paul seeks the believer who have confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour to give his wholehearted devotion. Why should the believer who is saved from the filth of his idoltrous past go back to partake the filth of sin in demon-worship? Its unbecoming of the believer and most rebellious of him. It puts him in danger of God’s wrath.