The Book of Romans ~ Lesson Thirty-Two

"Takin' A Digger"

Romans 14:9-23 (NLT) Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
   So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say,


   “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
   ‘every knee will bend to me,
      and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.’”


   Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
   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. 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. Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
   Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.

My husband always said this to the kids when they fell, "Did you take a digger?" I had never heard that term before and it makes me laugh. The sound of it tickles my funny bone. It really isn't a laughing matter. Falling and getting hurt never is. In the case of our spiritual walk in Christ, we should never be the cause of someone else falling. The Bible calls this being a stumbling block. So what does stumbling block mean?

The term "stumbling block" in Hebrew is "Miksol" and means, "an obstacle; a cause of falling or sinning, an enticement (especially an idol), an offense. It signifies a staggering burden." The Greek word for "stumbling block" is "skandalon" and it means "any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, (a stumbling block, occasion of stumbling) i.e. a rock which is a cause of stumbling." Keep these in mind as we study about, taking a spiritual "digger."

I want to talk about three types of stumbling blocks:

1. People

2. Idols

3. Jesus

People

1 Corinthians 8:9 (NCV) But be careful that your freedom does not cause those who are weak in faith to fall into sin. 

We must be careful what we do and say even though it may not be harmful to us. For example, if you drink wine in front of someone who is an alcoholic you may cause that person to pick up a drink again. We are to never cause another person to fall into sin. How about if you are single and dating and you seduce your date into sex outside of marriage, then you have caused that person to stumble into sin with you.  Another example would be gossip. You begin a conversation that leads the other person into gossip, you will cause that person to fall into sin. Whatever we do, we should watch our tongue and our actions so that we don't cause anyone to fall.

Matthew 18:5-7 (NLT) “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting."

Idols

Jeremiah 18:15 (CEV) But you, my people, have turned from me to burn incense to worthless idols. You have left the ancient road to follow an unknown path where you stumble over idols.

People and things, attitudes and ideas, are stumbling blocks. If they are placed before God, they are idols. There are actual idols made of wood, metal and stone that people worship. The little Buddhas you see are idols. God warns us about them and warns us to avoid them at all cost. If you have an idol in your home for decoration, you must remove it. Whatever that is keeping you from God is an idol.

Jesus

You may be asking how Jesus could be a stumbling block? Well, Scripture tells us that He is. Look at the passage below:

1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (NIV) Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Some of the Jews couldn't get over Jesus and who He was. Because they wouldn't accept Him, they fell. All people who won't come to Jesus, will fall. They are tripped up. Without Christ they will ultimately face eternity without Him. But, sometimes, when we stumble over Jesus, we end up on our knees and bow to Him. We begin a new life with Him and He raises us up to be with Him. He becomes our Leader and Rescuer and we have a wonderful, eternal hope.

What kind of stumbling block have you been? Do you have an idol that is causing you to fall away from God? Is Jesus a stumbling block to you and you can't get to a place where you believe that He is truly the only way to God? Wherever you find yourself right now, don't take or cause another "digger." Instead, bow to Him on your own and begin living eternity now with Him.

James 4:10 (NLT) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.