A Godly Example

“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” Romans 14:13

Have you ever been to a pet store and seen a parrot? Pretty much the main thing that a bird like a parrot is known for is the ability to mimic the words or sounds that it hears. In that way they are rather similar to a younger child, in that many times younger children will pick up certain words or try to copy what they hear others around them say. For this very reason it is very important that those children are exposed to good, wholesome, Godly speech, so that if and when they copy or mimic someone, they are mimicking someone filled with the Spirit of God. 

And it’s not just speech that children may copy, but physical actions as well. Children are very impressionable as they grow up and look to adults for guidance, and parents need to be certain that they set a Godly example for their children so that they do not cause their children to fall into a sinful lifestyle. They don’t want to be a “stumbling block.” 

A stumbling block is “an impediment to belief or understanding.” It is to put something in front of another that causes them to make a mistake or to sin. 

Imagine a runner in a marathon. As they run down the street, there are people lining the side of the street. If someone stuck their leg out just as the runner went by, and fell, that would be a stumbling block. It is whatever causes someone to fall or make a mistake.

As Christians, we need to make sure that we don’t do anything that would cause someone else to sin. Some people have had problems with alcohol, whether in the past or present. and they don’t want to be around it because they don’t want to fall back into sin. Now, alcohol in itself is not a sinful thing, but it is the misuse and overindulgence of alcohol that causes drunkenness and sin. A church member may like to have a drink now and then, but we do not want to do it around someone who has a problem with it. We do not want to cause someone else to fall into sin.

“But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your’s 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? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” 1 Corinthians 8:8-13

Some people are vegetarians, who do not like to eat meat or animal products. If eating meat around them is going to cause them to be upset or feel like they are sinning, we should bend to their weak conscience and not do it around them. God created everything and all the animals are there for us to eat. Everything that God made is good. But if someone has a problem with something you eat, do not eat (or drink) it around them.

“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.” Romans 14:20-21

Do not be the cause of someone’s sin or disbelief. When you have love towards your neighbor, you will put them before yourself. As you go about your day, live in a manner that will not cause someone to stumble in their faith. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and be a Godly example for others to see.

In Christ,

Andrew