Stumbling Block part 1
I want to spend the next few days talking about something that really doesn't seem to be very popular these days--putting others first. Because it seems like in this age of "enlightenment" we had come to the conclusion that in order to live our best lives... we can't concern ourselves with the collateral damage that is other people. If I'm doing what I gotta do, and you happen to get pulled under in my wake, that's not my problem. Or so the theory seems to be. Let's look at some Bible to see another point of view. "But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge of eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble" (1 Corinthians 8:9-13 NKJV). The context here is that "offering meat to idols" doesn't really mean anything, because they are false idols--and if you understand that, there's no problem. But if someone who doesn't understand that sees you do it... they might think it's ok for them to do it, under the idea that it DOES mean something to offer it to an idol. But the bigger picture, to me, is the first part and the last part. If my liberty is a stumbling block for someone else... it's not really liberty at all. If I'm doing something that hurts someone else... I probably shouldn't be doing it. To me it goes hand in hand with the idea we find in 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NLT), "You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is beneficial." Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD do it. Especially--and, again, this is the part that seems to be lost these days--if it hurts someone else. And while Paul took it to the extreme here, "If food makes my brother stumble, I'll never eat meat again," is that really such a huge sacrifice? We don't seem to see people in the way that Paul sees them. "For whom Christ died." That was one of his big ideas. One of the things he really liked to key in on. "How should I treat someone that Christ died for?" That was his mentality. The mentality I see these days is, "Treat yourself!" Live your best life. Don't worry about anybody else. If you're in a relationship it's ok to disrespect your partner, as long as your doing what's best for you. If you're a parent, it's ok to walk out on your child, as long as your doing what's best for you. Guys. I wholeheartedly disagree with all of that. If you're willing to disrespect your partner... you shouldn't be in a relationship. Period. If you're willing to walk away from your child, you're not really a parent at all. Life come with responsibilities. We owe a debt to each other--but only one. And it is love. "Owe nothing to anyone--except for you obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law" (Romans 13:8 NLT). If you love someone, you won't want to see them stumble. You won't put a stumbling block in front of them, and furthermore, you'll go out of your way to get rid of any stumbling blocks that may or may not show up in their road. Just like Jesus did--He brough the mountains low and the valleys high so that we could walk a straight and narrow path that leads unto life! We can, and should, do that for each other. We are loved, we ought to love!