1 Corinthians 8:13

New Living Translation

So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.

For Encouragement

One thing believers do not do well is not remembering how easy it is to sin against God. We list the sins we hold high in our Christian walk and pride ourselves in our non-conformity. Paul, however, makes a powerful statement on this issue in the last section of 1 Corinthians 8.

“And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ” (1 Corinthians 8:12)

Paul had already stressed two notable points on this in the verses before it.

First, we sin against the brother or sister whose weak conscience the expression of our freedom violates and causes them to stumble (10-11).

Second, misguiding a weaker believer into destructive indulgences is to sin against Christ (12). 

Yesterday, we stressed the judicious use of our freedoms within the body of Christ. Yes, we can express our preferences for different things and choices. However, as the saying goes, your freedom ends where that of others begins.

The coverage area of our expressions and preferences has limits predicated on the impact on the spiritual sanctity of the other people around us. 

So, Paul gives a gentle but stern warning to guide our walk as believers.

“You must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble (9).

A quintessential example of this is the response of Joseph to the aggressive approaches of Potiphar’s wife.

“How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (Genesis 39:9).

Joseph considered it wickedness to betray the trust of Potiphar by secretly defiling his marriage bed. Adultery is an offense to God. 

Paul provides the solution to this dilemma. 

What you eat, and by application, whatever freedom you enjoy, might cause a brother or sister to stumble. Refraining from exercising a freedom for the sake of a weaker brother is a Christlike deed. You owe it to your fellow brother or sister in Christ. You might lift them up and glorify God.

Could we apply this concept in every circumstance of our Christian life for the glory of God the Father in Christ Jesus?