What’s Important
17 God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.18 Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you.
19 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words;20 don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling.21 When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Don’t eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love
There is variety in creation and I guess we find variety in how we relate to our father. Most of the above concentrates on having a loving attitude to others who may believe different things or have a particular emphasis on something. We also need to be ready to be challenged. In verse 17 Paul is saying that what is important is what God is doing in our lives to set things right and completing that work with joy. That might include learning from those around us. We might find this difficult at first, as we make ourselves vulnerable to others. We can be reassured though that God completes his working in us with joy!
Joy Blog 