1301. Lest We Should Offend Them

Lest We Should Offend Them

"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Rom_14:21).

The Lord Jesus contended that they did not rightfully owe these taxes because they were sons, and not aliens. He said, however, "Notwithstanding: lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee."

Christians should guard very carefully their conduct toward those who are without. We are lights in the world, and we must let our light shine.

1. We must not offend the world. God has sent us into the world, that we may be a witness to the world. The world is watching- the children of God; men are ready to criticise us and to speak evil of us, if there is the least occasion.

God wants us to have a good report among those who are without.

The Epistle to Peter gives timely warning. It says: "Having your conduct becoming among the Gentiles; that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1Pe_2:12, \1911 Bible).

For this cause we must "be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."

It is by this conduct that we will be able to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

There is no glory when a Christian is buffeted for his faults, Christians must walk soberly and righteously and godly in this world. They must pay, when pay is demanded, even though they may believe themselves under no obligation to pay. When reviled, they must revile not again; when they suffer, they must threaten not. In everything and in every way they must adorn the Gospel of God.

2. We must not offend the saints. There are many weak brethren who will be grieved at some 'things, such as "what we eat," or, "what we drink." If therefore our brother is grieved at our meat, we must not walk uncharitably; we must not destroy, with our meat, him for whom Christ died. We must not allow even our good, to be evil spoken of. We are to do nothing whereby a brother stumbleth, or is ensnared, or is made weak. Christians need to submit themselves one to another.

We who are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. "Even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me" (Rom_15:3).

3. We must not offend a little child. "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Mat_18:6).

Christ said, "Woe unto the world because of offences!" but, the children of God must not offend.

We must be willing always to suffer wrong rather than to cause harm. We must live so near to God, and be so true one to another, that a little child shall believe in our sincerity, and trust implicitly in our integrity.

We must not sin in word, nor must we sin in deed. It may be all right for sinners to go to certain places and to do certain things, but God has committed unto us the honor of His glorious name, and we must in no wise cause any to stumble.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR