“16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.”
In the same vein of thought as living in harmony with one another (See previous devotional), Paul makes mention in verse 17 of the necessity for Christians to have thick skin, not being easily upset or offended. Here are a couple of Old Testament reminders from the book of Proverbs:
“Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the Lord, and he will rescue you.” — Proverbs 20:22
“Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me; I’ll repay the man for what he has done.”” — Proverbs 24:28-29
That being said, this does not mean that we should carelessly live our lives because God has called Christians not to be easily offended. “Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.” (v. 17b) We ought to carefully consider how our actions might be interpreted by others, especially if it will cause them to stumble. The entirety of 1 Corinthians 8 is dedicated to this concept. Paul explains that even though some may know that eating meat offered to idols is not a sin, because these idols are nothing more than the materials they are made from, others in the church may not be aware of this fact, and as such, may take part, and defile their own consciences. Here’s the conclusion that Paul comes to:
“For if someone sees you, the one who has knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? So the weak person, the brother or sister for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. Now when you sin like this against brothers and sisters and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother or sister to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won’t cause my brother or sister to fall.” — 1 Corinthians 8:10-13
Paul will address a similar topic about clean and unclean foods later in Romans chapter 14.
“Therefore, let us no longer judge one another. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean. For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let your good be slandered, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.” — Romans 14:13-18
What an amazing environment of unity and love we can foster in the church by being both sensitive to others and resistant to offense. This unity and honorable conduct within the church will serve as a way of displaying the love of Jesus to the world.