Lesson 32: Do Not Cause Another to Stumble – 14:13-23
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.
21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.
23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
This lesson continues with the same issue as last lesson, except in the last lesson we looked at the problem from the point of view of us being the one who was wronged. In this lesson we see the same problem from the point of view of us being the one who is doing the wrong.
Our actions, our decisions, often hurt someone else close to us. In our country we have a saying, “I am right, [you have to] live with it!” This attitude is never Jesus’ way. Again, our verses today use the example of food, but the issue can be anything. We only use things in which we see ourselves as being stronger than someone else.
We take, as our example, the fact that we have a job. We are somewhat secure in our finances so we tell someone who does not have a job that they are not trusting God enough to get them a job. When they ask us for a little help, we tell them they should be out looking for a job rather than begging us for help. We might even pray for them! But we do not help by giving them something we would be able to give.
The Bible says in many places, like 1 John 3:16-18 and James 2:15-16, that if we have the ability to help someone and do not do so, then we have sinned against this person. We must ask Jesus’ wisdom to help them wisely.
*When has Jesus blessed you for helping someone rather than judging them?