1 Corinthians 8:1-13 is
Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols, but I believe it speaks to us today as
well. Look what Paul has to say.
1 Now about food
sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs
up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know
as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God. 4 So then, about
eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the
world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called
gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many
“lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things
came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through
whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone
possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that
when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a
god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not
bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful,
however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to
the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your
knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat
what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ
died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this
way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore,
if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat
meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.
The key is in verse 9. Even
though we have freedom in Christ to do many things we do not have the right to
do them if it could cause someone to sin. That means changing our habits and
things we do if we place it under this Scripture. We are warned in James 1:22
not to just listen to the Word, but do what it says. Are there things you do
that might cause someone to stumble and fall?
Be wise today and always –
consider your example.
