Scripture:

Romans 14:

16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.
 
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

Observation:

I’m just gonna say it.  I don’t drink.  Never have.  Never will.  I don’t have a taste for it.  I don’t have a need for it.  And quite honestly I just don’t get it.  I don’t have a problem with people who do.  I just don’t.
 
Now if you are out getting drunk every night, then that is a different story all together.  My concern is that we have taken the “freedom” given to us in the scripture and used it as an excuse to compromise.
 
James 1 says:  14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Application:

Freedom is fashionable but we must be careful that it doesn’t take us one step closer to sin.  Our evil desire is all too easily tempted.  If that isn’t enough to give us pause, Paul points out that there are others to consider as well.  We must take into account our “brother” when we make choices that involve a spirit of freedom.  Our first priority is to love God.  Our second priority is to love others.  When we put our “freedom” over either one of these priorities we miss what God intended. We have been mastered by something other than Him.
 
Ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly.  Do I really need it?  Can I live without it?  Is it going to cause someone else to fall?  Am I just trying to be cool?  Am I making every effort to promote peace?  Or am I fighting for my “freedom” just because I can?  Could it be that I’ve been mastered by something other than the Father?
 
What does making “every effort” look like in your life?

Prayer:

Pray that nothing would master you.  Nothing other than Jesus!  Pray for a temperate spirit…a spirit for all things good!