Create the Menu with Love

 

Create the Menu with Love

Romans 14: ¹³ So then, let us stop judging one another. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make others stumble or fall into sin. ¹⁴ My union with the Lord Jesus makes me certain that no food is of itself ritually unclean; but if you believe that some food is unclean, then it becomes unclean for you. ¹⁵ If you hurt others because of something you eat, then you are no longer acting from love. Do not let the food that you eat ruin the person for whom Christ died! ¹⁶ Do not let what you regard as good get a bad name. ¹⁷ For God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace, and joy which the Holy Spirit gives. ¹⁸ And when you serve Christ in this way, you please God and are approved by others.

 

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Putting together the lunch menu for the business meeting was supposed to be easy. I liked a certain type of food, but when I asked people what their choice was, I was shocked. “You mean you don’t like piles of deliciousness falling off of your plate?” I thought to myself. Several people wanted something different than what I would choose. I changed the menu.

 

• There have been times when I questioned what people ate.
• There have been times when I considered letting the ”picky” people, find their own meal.
• There have been times when I wanted to speak about CHRIST but my menu left people, who had different beliefs, out and I could not share the gospel with them.

 

Arguments over food needed to be addressed, so Paul wrote on this matter. He got to the heart of the matter, speaking to those who felt free to eat anything, telling them to curb their freedom for those who bound themselves to eat a certain way. It was not about the food, but the example.

 

• GOD wants me to think of others when I eat.
• GOD wants me to consider my freedom as offensive to those I may be trying to reach.
• GOD wants me to be flexible temporarily so I can serve those who HE wants to reach.

 

My freedom should not make someone fall. I mean, if I am alright with doing something, eating something or being somewhere that another person cannot handle, I should be flexible enough to pause my freedom for a moment. It’s not worth trying to convince “that” person to eat or drink a certain way.

 

GOD wants a good reputation and HE chooses sinners to provide it. HE wants me to be able to surrender my freedom temporarily, in order to reach the lost. It is not about me, it is about JESUS.

 

• Are you complaining about the way someone eats or does not eat?
• Do you think “that” person is weaker in faith?
• Will you “stop judging one another” and be a good example for CHRIST so you may be “approved by others” for HIM today?

Could Be Having a Bad Day

 Could Be Having a Bad Day

Romans 14: Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions. ² Some people's faith allows them to eat anything, but the person who is weak in the faith eats only vegetables. ³ The person who will eat anything is not to despise the one who doesn't; while the one who eats only vegetables is not to pass judgment on the one who will eat anything; for God has accepted that person. ⁴ Who are you to judge the servants of someone else? It is their own Master who will decide whether they succeed or fail. And they will succeed, because the Lord is able to make them succeed.

 

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Excited to get a good meal, I sat at the table and thought of how tasty it would be. This was a restaurant recommended by the hotel, so it must be good. I sat and sat. No one came to the table. I flagged a waitress over and she said “I will get your waitress.” When she arrived, her face was sad with a slight bit of anger. She gave me “bad” service.

 

• There have been times when I wanted to complain to the manager about someone.
• There have been times when I wanted to tell the boss about what someone was doing wrong.
• There have been times when I wanted to make sure the person who was giving me “bad” service would fail and hopefully be fired.

 

Paul continues with his strange message. At the core, he is speaking about respecting other people. The three people he mentions, remind me of a restaurant. One patron orders the everything platter while another table orders the salad bowl.

 

Both could ask the question “Why did that table order that kind of food?” in a judgmental way. Meanwhile both patrons judge the wait staff, not knowing the full story.

 

• GOD wants me to welcome those who are weak in faith.
• GOD wants me to hold back any arguments I may have, trying to convince someone to grow and simply accept the person, just like HE does.
• GOD wants me to become part of HIS success by removing judgment of the workers of churches, businesses or households I encounter.

 

Finding something wrong with the way someone does things is easier and easier these days. I mean, I can watch a video of how things are supposed to go, but when I try the experience it may not go as I have expected. I then have a choice, complain or give grace. GOD wants me to understand grace more than I want to at times. I mean “that” person is clearly wrong and should be told about it, right? Maybe. BUT GOD wants me to understand grace first.

 

Remember the sad, scowling waitress I encountered. Turns out she had a serious situation at home. I said I would pray for her and she shed a tear and gave me great service from then on. I tipped heavily. I am grateful GOD gives me a second chance, especially from those who judge me. HE makes me succeed.

 

• Are you judging someone?
• Are you saying to yourself “I wouldn’t do it that way?”
• Will you stop judging others and join the LORD who is willing and able to make them succeed?