The Law of Love

Intro:

This morning I want to talk about living Christ centered in a me-centric world. We live in an era of time that is hyper focused on personal fulfillment and self love.

The principles we are fed by society like “Live your truth”, “it doesn’t matter what people think, just do whatever makes you happy”, “You do You”, sound good, but often leave you with little concern for others. They elevate the pursuit of personal fulfillment and pleasure leaving little concern for others.

In today’s passage of scripture from the book of Romans, we will see the Apostle Paul convey a deep kingdom truth about Christ-Centered living.

Last week on the Law of Liberty, Paul used the issue of food (clean vs. unclean) as the vehicle to teach us to honor one another, and that we should not stand in judgement over our fellow believers in Christ. That we will each given an account to Christ, and so the more important task is to put on Christ by learning His ways and putting them into practice.

In today’s message, we will see Paul push deeper into our interaction with fellow believers and while he continues with the example of food, I believe He is pointing to a deeper principle that is actually speaking to the core nature of the believer, and the heart posture we are to live from.

Open your bibles to Romans 14:14-23.

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Submit:

Romans 14:14–20 “I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

In this passage, Paul reiterates concerning the law that there is nothing unclean concerning the food you eat. Yet He shares a powerful concept: While we know that nothing is considered unclean because of Christ, yet if our liberty grieves our brother in Christ we are no longer walking in love.

I shared with you a few weeks ago that the essence of the kingdom of God is love because God is love (1 John 4:8). The primary function of the believer is to walk in the Love of God. First, toward God. Second, towards others. Mark 12:30-31.

Mark 12:30–31 says, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The crucial truth Paul is conveying in Romans 14 is this: Kingdom Love will always trump personal preference.

We know all things can be received with thanks, but Romans 14:15 says, “Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.”

The great responsibility of freedom is knowing how and when to exercise it. The love of God teaches us to prefer others better than ourselves. Romans 12:3.

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

What He is teaching us, is to live with the proper orientation. If we follow societies lead we will find ourselves without compassion towards others. If they stumble because of what I do that’s on them, not me. It’s usually phrased “That sounds like a you problem.”

A Me-Centric person is willing to continue doing something at the expense of others without any consideration to the outcome of that person.

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Apply:

The essence of living Christ-Centered in a Me-Centric world is recognizing that the chief aim of life is not the fulfillment of personal pleasure and desires.

I use the phrase “Chief Aim” specifically because I don’t want there to be any confusion. Finding personal fulfillment in life is not wrong unless it is rooted in sin. What I want to convey is simply that personal fulfillment is not the chief aim of life.

We are called to be a kingdom people who assimilate into kingdom culture. We are to take on the values, attitudes, and language of the kingdom through the renewing of our minds with the word of God. Our chief aim is to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. Romans 14:17.

Paul gives the big picture statement in Romans 14:17 which says, “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The big picture statement from Paul. The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking (preference), but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Paul’s statement reveals that kingdom focus is elevated. It carries a perspective that has shifted from inward to upward.

Me-centric is inward focused- what I can get, only seeing how things affect me, etc., and its result has the potential to cause destruction in others.

A Christ-centered focus is upward. What I can give? Who can I impact? How can I serve others? This type of focus will build up others. The Call of God is upward, and it has an outward effect. Philippians 3:14.

It is Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

This is why I believe Paul says, Romans 14:19–20 “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.”

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Closing:

Christ centered focus is about caring for one another and living selfless. It doesn’t take away personal fulfillment, it often reshapes it. The world often mistakes the source of fulfillment as it looks to pleasure, material wealth, pursuit of pleasure as the primary source of fulfilment in life.

Upward focus reshapes personal fulfillment when it pushes our focus outward. We get a different level of satisfaction, joy, and purpose in life when God uses us to meet the needs of others.

A persistent inward focus can leave us depressed and in despair, but an upward focus positions us to make great impact.

I’m certainly not on a soap box against personal fulfillment or the enjoyment of life. I simply want to bring caution today through the text to not live Me-Centered focus at the expense of others. If we learn to frame our pursuit with the lens of love. I believe we will find fulfillment, purpose, and joy like never before.

Let’s Pray!

Father, give us a deeper revelation of your love. Teach us to walk in it.

Salvation