My fourth pregnancy was fraternal twin boys. That was fun! I still remember mediating arguments when then they were about two-ish. One would insist the toy was his to play with. The other would rebuttal that he had it first. The first would argue that his older brother had given it to him. And so we went in circles. I understood the prayer for the Wisdom of Solomon in a new way. Two women came to Solomon claiming a baby was “mine” as the other had rolled on top of her baby and it died in the night. Solomon called for a sword. “Cut the baby in half and give half to each lady.” One woman cried out, “NO, let her have it. Don’t kill it.” The other agreed to the death. Solomon gave the baby to the woman of compassion.
Paul is pointing out in Romans 14 that no matter what church you are in there are people are going to disagree about some issue. For sure you are on the side of the “strong” and the one’s you disagree with are “weak.” Back then it may have been about observing Jewish dietary laws but we have our issues today that we split over. Paul invokes the law of love. Perhaps another way of saying this is to ask ourselves if we are disagreeing about trivia and personal taste or is there a real issue about the identity of God and his role in my life.
As a young adult “the law of love” I found could be used to justify “missionary dating”, drinking too much with the teachers for TGIF, and of course going places like movies that I might not have chosen to see. I came to believe the law of love encouraged respect for the other but does not require disingenuous behavior that violates my integrity.
14 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions. (Romans 14:1)
Blessings as you seek the Wisdom of Solomon in the issues challenging you right now!
On the Way to Wonder 