November 27, 2026 -Everything in Moderation and Love

ROMANS 11:1-14:23

Chronological Bible Readings

^{Romans 13:13} Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.

Going back to previous posts about is it okay to drink alcohol. Drinking wine was an everyday thing so having a drink or two would be less likely to be looked down on in biblical times. Everything in moderation is a well-known saying and it's true. But when you progress past moderation there is a natural deterioration that happens and we see them here. Wild parties lead to drunkenness which lowers inhibitions and deteriorates self-control which leads to sexual promiscuity and immoral living. All are a result of living in darkness (worldly evil living). These are all ungodly. We are children of the light and should not live in darkness.

^{Romans 14:1}Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. ² For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. ³ Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them.

I think we can relate drinking alcohol to the same standards of what the Jewish people were eating. There was conflict about is it okay to eat meat that was sacrificed to false idols. There is also conflict now about is it okay to drink alcohol. As children of the light, we are free to eat whatever because it is about the heart. For things that there is no direct prohibition we are free to partake in but it depends on where we are in our faith and the conviction of our hearts. We should not be criticizing other believers for their convictions.

^{Romans 14:14} I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. ¹⁵ And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. ¹⁶ Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good.

At the same time when we are with people who are not comfortable with what we are comfortable doing (such as drinking alcohol), our love for them should win out over our interest in enjoying a drink. I think if our interest in having a drink outweighs our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ then we need to examine our hearts. The only way we can know that a brother or sister does not have a faith that gives them the confidence to be able to have a drink is if they tell us. In verse one Paul talks about those people being weaker in faith. I don't think that is a negative statement. It just means that that person is younger in faith or has been convicted of their own weakness in being able to participate with a right heart. In their weakness they may not be able to view others who are comfortable in their faith to participate. It is better for us to show them our love by being understanding of them. And it is also better that our witness and ability to build them up in their faith is not hindered by our ability to partake.

^{Romans 14:21} It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.

There are also situations that our participating could cause someone who is not just weak in faith but also weak in body to stumble. For example we should not be drinking with a brother or sister who is an alcoholic as it could cause them to stumble.