Big Things. Little Things.

Here is the scene in Romans 14.  Believers from the Roman church were gathering to share meals together.  And, when they got to the table, they began to criticize each other for their food choices. Worse, they began to equate food choices with holiness!  They weren't talking about the sin of gluttony, letting food consumption go beyond moderation or need.  They were arguing over whether one should eat certain meats or be a vegetarian and so forth. 

That was not the only thing they tore each other apart over.  As now, any minor disagreement became a reason to break fellowship. We see this today - - - believers criticizing each other over every, little thing and sometimes even changing to another church over it.

There are things we should stand strong over - - - real, actual sins. True acts of unholiness we willingly do, or true acts of holiness we omit.   But "the little things"?  Personal preferences or personal convictions?  That is another matter all together.

Why is it we think everyone should be exactly like us?  In Sunday School this week, we were talking about comforting those who are either losing or recently lost a loved one, and how differently people react to the love shown by others during those times.  Some people just want everyone outside the immediate family to leave them alone, to give them privacy.  Others want to be surrounded by as many friends as possible.  Does this make one wrong and the other right?  No!  It is a matter of preference.

We need to come to terms with the truth that not everyone is like us.  We can still love our Christian brothers/sisters as well extending Christian love to our neighbors, even when we disagree.

And, it just hurts the cause of Jesus Christ when we fight over minor issues.  Fight when fighting is required.  Stand strong for the truth.  But, don't "major on the minors".

The Message version translates Romans 14:12 like this:

So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

I love it!  "Tend to your own knitting!"  The Devil loves to plant critical thoughts in our minds, especially us ladies.  But, we don't have to receive them, stew on them or spew them forth from our mouths.  What Paul encourages us to do is to re-focus our attention. When we are tempted to criticize someone over a minor thing, we need to turn the focus to examining our own hearts.  
What is prompting that criticism?
Is it springing from jealousy?  Envy? A desire to be "holier than thou" (that is, pride?)  
Hm-m-m-m?
AHEM!  I can write about this so easily because I so readily fall into this trap.
But, you know, I really have my hands full, tending to my own business: walking in faith with my God.  (Or I SHOULD.)

Another translation, the NET translates the latter part of verse 12 as

 ....each of us will give an account of himself to God. 

He is going to evaluate our execution of the little things, personal convictions, by whether or not those decisions were made through the exercise of our faith.  In other words, did we make those decisions as part of growing closer to God, becoming more like Christ?  Or, did we make those preferential decisions out of personal convenience, selfish consumption, spiritual pride, etc.? What was the motivation?  You see, what is of utmost importance is what drives those decisions, and if we deal with each other selflessly in the making of them.

Whew...that's a tough one, Lord.  Basically, we just want our own way.  We want to make our Christian walk a "Burger King" existence ("Have it Your Way!), when what You require, what you call holiness involves self-sacrifice, compassion, building up others (as opposed to building up ourselves), giving Jesus the glory (as opposed to glorifying ourselves).  It's not easy to give our flesh the old "smack-down". Fortunately, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, it is possible.  Help us, Lord to distinguish between the big things and the small, and to honor You in all.  In Jesus' name, amen.