Romans 14 – Prefer One Another
What’s The Point?
Paul goes over a few specific issues that had likely come up in the newly formed Church. These issues have a unique context within the early Church, but the message to them and the message to us as we study this passage is prefer one another.
Paul refers to those who are “weak in the faith” a few times in this passage. Understand, this is not a cut down; there are simply those who are newer, younger Christians in the Church in Rome. This is actually a good thing because it shows the Church is growing. Some of these new believers came from a Jewish background where they had many dietary restrictions and followed other Old Testament Jewish traditions: feasts, holy days, rituals, etc.
Let’s set up a modern day example that I don’t think is too much a stretch. I know someone who, when they got saved, stopped listening to all secular music. They threw away all their CD’s (it was a while ago) and only listened to worship music. Now that person has been a believer for thirty years and they listen to all kinds of music, not just Christian music. How can this be?
When they were new to the faith, or as Paul says, “weak,” they were fully convinced that secular music was sinful. Then, as they grew in faith, they became convinced that it was okay to listen to things other than worship music. What Paul is saying is that we should live in accordance with what the Lord is convicting us of in every stage of life. You should live whole-heartedly, full-throttle in obedience to the Lord.
So, what do we do if someone else’s convictions are different than ours? We keep worshiping the Lord! If someone is convicted about only listening to worship music and they do that to the glory of God, praise the Lord! If someone is convicted that they should abstain from certain foods and they abstain to the glory of God, praise the Lord. If someone is not convicted about what they eat or listen to and they are giving glory to the Lord with their lives, praise the Lord! Let everything you do be done to the glory of the Lord.
Side Note: There are things that we could watch and listen to that would be objectively sinful. Movies or music that promote things that are contrary to the Gospel cannot bring glory to God. So, we cannot do whatever we want and just say, “I’m not convicted.” The freedom we have in Christ must be in accordance with the truth and admonitions of Scripture.
How do we in the Church live with these different convictions? Simple, we prefer each other and pursue unity. Paul’s directives are almost too simple. If something, like eating meat, offends your brother or sister, don’t do it. Paul sums it up so well when he said, “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God” (v. 20). In any situation is it ever worth stopping the work of the Lord in someone else’s life? No! So let’s prefer one another. It is always better to prefer our brothers and sisters than to prefer ourselves.
Oftentimes, as Christians, we make the mistake of seeing how close we can get to sin. This is always the wrong way to think, and it sometimes carries over into our unity with each other. We think about ourselves first and then try to let the preferences of others fit within our framework. Instead, forget your preferences, forget what you want, and look for ways to serve others.
This is what Christ did for us. He preferred us over himself. He gave everything so that we could have unity with him. Worship Jesus for what he has done and live like him.
Scripture Memorization
Psalm 133:1
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
Prayer
Lord, why am I so consumed with me? I think about what I want and what I need. I am caught up with satisfying myself. Change the way I think, so that I think about what others want and what others need. Change my selfish tendencies and use me to serve your Church. You have created me for the beauty and richness of community, and I have traded that in for ugly, selfish living. Show me the joy and satisfaction that only comes through contentment in the Body of Christ. Teach me to serve, teach me to love, teach me to honor, teach me to love the things that build up your Church. Amen.
Reflection
- What are some preferences you have that you need to be willing to forgo for the sake of others?
- Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Think about how God made us to be members of a body, and praise him for how wonderful that is.
- Pray for other believers in your life. It is much easier to be unified as a body when we are lifting one another up in prayer.
Discussion Questions
- What are some other passages that talk about our unity in Christ or unity in the Spirit? Why is this so important?
- How do you know which convictions are worth giving up for the sake of unity and which ones are worth holding to for the sake of the Gospel? Share some examples.
- Within your group, are there different preferences or convictions?
If you have any questions feel free to reach out: harry@swoutfitters.com. All of the Scripture referenced in this study is from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.