"For the Kingdom of God is not meat or drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and thing wherewith one may edify another."
Romans 14:17-19
Part 4
Yesterday:
“Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace.”
Jesus gave His disciples unity when He went to the Cross. We are to keep that peace among the brethren.
Today:
“And things wherewith one may edify another.”
“Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification” (Romans 15:2).
We are striving,
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).
In Romans 14, where our verses for today are located, the Apostle teaches us the principle of deference. Paul gave up some of his freedoms (eating meat, and others), to be able to minister to his brethren. Sadly, this seems to be a foreign concept in Christianity today. We are good at demanding our rights and freedoms. Still, it is rare to find a believer who will give up rights, freedoms, and privileges for his/her fellow believers. Along with this idea is the principle that we do not look out for ourselves, but for others. We try hard, not to be offensive to others, saved or lost.
Here is a Bible contrast that some believers have trouble with.
Paul wrote:
“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:33).
He also wrote:
“For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
On the one hand, he said, “I please men,” and on the other, he said, “I don’t please men!” Which is correct? Of course, they both are, but we need to understand what he is saying.
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul said he was doing his best not to be offending “the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church of God.” To be offensive in his manner and ministry would drastically hinder his opportunity to present the Gospel and see the lost be saved (see 1 Corinthians 10:31-33). “Even as I please all men,” was his way of saying he would not intentionally “offend” or lead men/women into sin. But he knew well that some would be much offended by the Gospel which he preached.
In Galatians 1, Paul understood that the One who had first-claim on his life is God. God always comes first. Paul’s goal in life was to bring glory to Him. He knew that God saw and heard everything. As he preached to men, he never softened his message to please people. God always came first, and others came in second. Sadly,
“There have always been preachers who have sought popular acclaim above all else, and there are some still. It is part of fallen human nature that even those charged with the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel can fall into the trap of trying to be popular rather than faithful”[1] (Morris).
Believers, let us serve God to the best of our abilities, and let’s be faithful as we attempt to disciple others. Let’s remember, without the principle of deference, our ability reach the lost, and to edify the body will be greatly hindered.
Quote: Jehovah’s promise to Israel if she would love and faithfully serve Him alone. “And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid, and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land” (Leviticus 26:6).
[1] Guzik, David. David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.