1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Here is the crux of the matter: We are free in Christ but our freedom can become a stumbling block to others. Just because we are free in Christ doesn’t mean we can do whatever we want. Love is more important than freedom. There are two types of freedom: the freedom that comes with knowledge, or the use of responsibility that comes from love. The first is harmful to the community and the second builds up the community.
This is a hard message for Americans to accept because we are so independent and freedom is our watch word and song. We like to appeal to our freedom to do what we want. Every group and segment of society cries out for freedom. If this appeal for freedoms comes from a sinful heart, it will turn into selfishness. One person’s freedoms becomes another person’s bondages.
Paul offers another route. It is the more difficult one. It is the one Jesus took when he,
“being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7).
A couple of questions we can ask are,
- Are our actions going to help or hinder our relationship with God?
- Are they going to be a stumbling block for weaker Christians?
- Is love the controlling factor in my behavior?
We are free in Christ, but this freedom is to be given away to others through loving them and building them up.
For older posts, click here.