Nothing in Life is Free...

Nothing in life is free. Even freedom comes at a cost. Take for example the freedom we have here in America. It cost us many lives, from the civil war to the war to end all wars. The battles fought to preserve our right to live in this Republic cost many lives. The blood shed for our freedom came at the highest price, human life. So how are we to treat this costly freedom? With the upmost respect. Paul tells us to be careful that our freedom doesn’t cause others to stumble. If eating meat causes a fellow believer to stumble than Paul will never eat meat again (no, this is not an excuse to become a vegetarian). Freedom isn’t free, it comes at a cost. So we should treat it as though it’s the most valuable gift we have ever received. And the only way that’s possible is to be accountable to God. He’s the One Who made this freedom possible by dying on the cross to set us free. We are free from the guilt that future condemnation brings; free from the fear of judgement and death. Our responsibility to God balances out perfectly with our freedom. If Christ Jesus died for me to grant me this freedom, than I can set aside my selfishness (dying to self) and use it responsibly, knowing I’m accountable to Him. It’s the only true way we can live the Christian life. It’s the balance that comes from how we live here on earth with the notion that it affects our future living in Heaven with our Creator.

9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you–with your “superior knowledge”–eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 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. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13