14:20
If we are tempted to neglect Paul’s approach we need to consider the effect that our actions might have on others, on others who are God’s children. “Do not destroy the work of God”. This should be very sobering. Jesus died on the cross for our brother, to destroy that work over a matter of food or a certain day is a terrible thing to do. So if helping a brother necessitates abstaining from a certain food for a while, so be it. We need to have true perspective on things.
14:21
A person might think “I have the right to eat meat, so I am jolly well going to eat meat”, or “my brother needs to realise the freedom we have in Christ, so I will eat meat to demonstrate this too him”. But both these views are mistaken, they are far more likely to lead to the brother stumbling. How might he stumble? He might just feel guilty, he might eat the meat under pressure and feel guilty, or it might just cause needless division. We need to think carefully, and beware of letting our self-centeredness taking over.
14:22
If you did take a high and mighty attitude then you would actually bring condemnation upon yourself. A certain amount of discretion is advisable on many occasions. We all have many opinions, but just because we have an opinion does not mean that we should flaunt it! There is a time and a place to voice opinions, and sometimes it is not at all.
14:23
So if someone eats meat, or drinks wine, under pressure, not because they are convinced it is OK, then they bring condemnation upon themselves. Their conscience will condemn them. Everything is to be done from faith. We are in a relationship with the Lord, and the basis for that relationship is faith. We are not following a set of rules.
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