SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
1 Corinthians 8:7-8
Romans 15:1-7

“Howbeit there is not in every
man that knowledge ...”

A WEAK CONSCIENCE

Due to their lack of knowledge, the consciences of young believers may sometimes be weak. They may regard that which is right as wrong as they are not clear in their judgments and convictions. It is thus the duty of mature Christians to guide them in love and in truth to develop biblical perspectives concerning the Word of God.

With regards to the Corinthian church, Paul stated that not all had knowledge that an idol was nothing (1 Cor 8:7a). Having been brought up in a pagan society, some brethren still struggled with superstitious notions of idols. The Corinthian Christians would thus have to be considerate to such brethren, lest their consciences be defiled further.

1 Corinthians 8:8 then addresses both the weak and those with supposedly “superior” knowledge. To the brethren with weak consciences, they were to discard their superstitious notions concerning food offered to idols. Should they abstain from food bought at the shambles, perchance been offered to idols? There was no need to be burdened by a guilty conscience, as such food had no power over them.

On the other hand, the strong must bear in mind that the eating of food earned them no special status before the Lord. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom 14:17).

Similarly, we must be considerate to weaker brethren and not defile their consciences. The duty to be considerate to our fellow brethren is given in Romans 15:1-2: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

THOUGHT: Christians must help one another to grow in faith.
PRAYER: Father, help me to be considerate to others.