“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
1 Corinthians 8:13
Paul says that if eating meat makes his brother stumble, he would never do it. This reveals to us the priorities established in Paul’s life. On one side of the scale, we have his preferences. On the other side we have his brother’s spirituality and relationship with Jesus. Which one is heavier?
This passage indicates that Paul is concerned more with his brother’s spirituality and relationship with Jesus than his own life.
In my heart I wonder what motivates Paul. It is the question of “why”, for I desire that same impetus and inspiration.
You see, Paul was motivated by a higher governance other than his own gain- it was the love of Christ and the love for his brethren that drove Paul in his life decisions in all matters (even matters of eating meat or not).
And so love for each other is tested in the mundane. The small things reveal how selfish we really are. In that place, you will find how desperately we need to be renewed in the love of Christ and for our love to die; our love is terrible. Phillip Chan’s love for others is weak and terrible.
Now I have seen myself in the mirror. It is appalling sight, this thing of the flesh.