by David Brenneman
"Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble." 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.
We can often be our own worst enemy. Whether intentionally or unintentionally we can easily give way to behaviors or words that ought not be done or said in the Lord.
We have been in a culture of "do whatever you want, whatever feels right" and it's a curse not a blessing in living life.
Add to this our world even knows that. We have for many decades been living with planned obsolescence. Whatever we buy we're just used to the notion that it's not going to last because that's how it's been designed...to not last.
A decade ago Microsoft branded Windows 10 as the last operating system you would ever buy. Then due to their own mechanations we now have Windows 11 with 12 on the horizon. By the end of next year...hundreds of millions of tons of e-waste will be created.
What does all this have to do with anything?
A world that is always one where thinking about the other person isn't natural nor normal anymore. Not that it ever truly has been. Our world is on a downhill spiral towards the Great Tribulation.
The closer we get the more true that the Bible has been becoming concerning the fallen state of mankind. We do not look to the impact our actions have on others around us. We have been trained to think of ourselves first. Do whatever feels right and good for us.
It doesn't take much to stir the pot at all. People do not try to consider others above themselves.
We have essentially put laws on the books to protect the guilty and punish the innocent. We have laws that protect the evil that men and women do and people are protesting the innocent.
What we do, how we do, matters to our Holy God. People daily ruin their testimony they have in Christ with quite often a few words or a single action.
The Bible says to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Says that we should consider others as more important than ourselves.
Our world is in direct opposition to this. Find a single incident on social media and many people become judge, jury and want to be the executioner.
Actions are to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in the life of a Believer.
We do not know what God knows with regards to others...however we also know what kind of man or woman of God we ought to be.
If we aren't trying to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...we're in danger of ruining the work of the Spirit of God in the lives of people everywhere.
What do things like planned obsolescence have to do with anything? Guaranteed paths to irritation and anger for those more sensitive to it. In Daniel's book we read of the fact that his "co-workers" used the law structure to frame Daniel and get him tossed in with a bunch of hungry lions. They couldn't get him for anything by way of government corruption so they modeled their attack around his faith in God.
Our world is not going to support or uplift us in growing in Christ. Our world is still under the usurped rule of Satan. It's trying to ruin the testimony of Believers in order to keep the lost of this world...lost.
Our world, by Satan's design, is trying to keep Believers from growing in Christ and is trying to keep people from the truth of God in Christ Jesus. As Believers we are either helping him or we're living out Christ to the world around us.
Satan's going to use every single tool he is permitted to use. Be assured of that. Read the opening chapters of the book of Job.
Him and his minions have been twisting this world to his own ends.
Yet God is still God. Jesus is still on the Throne. We still have a lot of room to grow in Christ and need to be more aware of what that really means for us.
We can't just react to this world and not realize it's going to either show people a still better way in Christ or show them that our faith is weak.
Are you intentionally in daily...throughout the day...prayer?
Are you aware...really aware...of your impact on those around you?
Are you in the Word of God every day? Even if it's but a few verses you need to be.
Are your hobbies or job showing a dark side of you that shouldn't be there at all?
The Bible says that we are to let everything we do be done in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
Anger, rage, malicious intent. Being lover of themselves. These are the signs that we probably aren't right with Jesus.
The Bible speaks to the evil that can come by way of the tongue.
It is Scripture that upholds the truth of God in Christ for all who believe.
Honestly the easiest example is sports, not that it's the only example. People rage at what other people do on a field...and in a nanosecond...ruin their testimony.
Take great care in what you set your mind on. It's going to trip you up if you're not careful. People are always watching those who claim to be Believers. It takes a single instance and someone can be turned from Jesus for years.
We need to be on our guard.
We need to be more aware of our actions.
Pray, Read, repeat.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
