Can you think of a time in your life that was maybe not so pleasant that it left a lasting bad memory? So much that it completely ruined your desire to do something ever again? Maybe it was a certain type of food that you had that tasted really bad to you, and from then on you never wanted to eat it ever again. Or for another example, maybe someone went out on a boat for the first time and they became “sea sick” because they were not used to the rocking of the boat, and decided to never go on a boat again. Now, would you be a person who would go up to one such person and try to force them to eat that food, or get onto a boat, even after you knew that they had a problem with it?
There can be many different things that different people dislike for their own reasons. Not that it may be wrong or anything, but some people just like certain things while other people might not. And it is these things that we do not want to let become a source of offense towards others, whether it be certain things that we do, or things that we eat, our goal as Spirit filled believers in Jesus Christ is to draw others to Christ, and to be filled with love towards everyone. In nothing do we want our actions to be the cause of the sin of someone else, or to make them feel as though they are doing something wrong that they are offended by, whether they be a believer in Jesus Christ or even if they are a complete unbeliever.
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
People come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some people may like certain foods or drinks, as Paul referenced, but there may be some other people who really will get offended and angry if they see someone eating certain things. It is for these people that we as Christians should seek to give no offense to. Food is just food, it is good as God has made it, but in order to reach people and to show them the love of Christ we should just refrain from doing it.
Romans 14:20-23 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
It may not even be food, maybe it is something else that causes someone to take offense. Maybe someone has a problem with you cutting your lawn at 7 o’clock in the evening, and they get really angry when you do it. Can you cut your lawn whenever you want? Yes, technically, but you can also decide to show your neighbor the love of Christ by choosing to do it at a different time that does not cause any strife and anger.
Love is the quality that Jesus is filled with, and it is a quality that Jesus wants us to be filled with towards others. Because of Christ’s love He chose to die for the sins of the world. He certainly was not forced to, but He did it to show His love towards others. We must learn to do the same. In whatever we do, show that love.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 