9-17-06 Rom 14 1-6
9-17-06 Rom 14: 1-6 “DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF”
Last week we talked about Loving One another, For the Day of The Lord is Near, from Rom 13:8-13.
We are to put off the works of Darkness and put on Deeds of the Light.
We are going to continue in Romans with Rom 14: 1-6 today as to how we are not to be petty Judges with one another here on Earth.
What do I mean by being a petty Judge. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
We are not to have disagreements over what we eat, what we ware, or what holidays we take off. You know PETTY Small THINGS.
I think I’m getting ahead of myself Lets start with Rom 14: 1-6
14 1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
(A little History) In Rome at the time that Paul wrote this letter there were Jewish Christians who were reluctant to give up certain ceremonial aspects of their religious heritage, foods and holidays.
Rom 14:1-3 1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2 One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
In writing this Paul rebukes both the strong and the weak in faith for their judgmental attitudes on Petty Small Things.
The person described in this context whose faith is weak (1–3) is not necessarily one who is immature or lacking in faith in Christ in an absolute sense.
Rather he is one who does not believe that his Christian faith allows him to engage in some specific practice because of what they had been taught in the past.
Using that today, I realize we have people here at Living Water who have come from a variety of religious backgrounds.
Examples; Julie & I, and some others, come from a background of small groups not necessarily meeting in what is called a Church Building.
While some others have come from a background of only meeting in a Church style Building on certain days.
Some have come from where only special people are allowed in certain parts of the Church building or temple, and only if they have done good enough works to be there.
While others say this is just a building anyone is allowed because the body is the Temple of God not the Building
Some come from a church that has Communion every week while others are use to once a month or every so often
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
V 5-6 go on further to say that some look upon certain days as more important than other days.
Rom 14; 5-6 5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
Example; Some may consider Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Birthdays as something special.
While others may say it is just another day. We must live for the Lord each and every day the same.
We are told here that we must be sure in our own minds of what we stand on before the Lord. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
OH WOW VERSE 4. Those of you paying attention, (OF COURSE THAT IS EVERYONE RIGHT) you might have thought I just missed that verse.
Well I did not Rom 14: 4 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
We are told not to judge them because of who’s servant they are. The Lord’s and He will help them stand.
Also Ref. Col 2: 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
Here we are also told not to judge someone else by what they eat or drink or by what days they call holidays’ or not. Again Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
When I say, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, like these issues. It is not because these issues do not matter to you or all of us.
It is because these are not SIN issues. They are differences of opinions concerning our own beliefs with certain foods and holidays.
Sin issues do need to be taken care of in Love. Enough so that Christ even gave us a guide in Mt 18: 15-19 as a Ref. We are not going to delve into this passage at this time.
We are to focus on Loving One Another not picking out small things to differ about. Lets Pray!