God is working in all of His children.  But we all start from a different place to each other - our religious background, ethnic culture, social habits, cultural preferences and many more elements of our past life including the ways in which we have sinned and rebelled against God’s authority.  So, we ought to realise that He is doing different things in each of us, enabling us to conform our hearts and actions to His will (Philippians 2:13).  

Paul is teaching about the problem: should Christians eat meat which had been sacrificed to idols?  Some had no problem, but others refused to eat it (1 Corinthians 8:4-8). The Lord not only wants us to do what will please Him, but for us to have a deep desire to please Him and therefore a desire to understand the issues (Ephesians 5:10).  He wants us to be fully convinced in our own minds that the changes in our lives are pleasing to Him (Romans 14:5).  When other believers behave differently, we may be troubled - either angry that they are not 'as good' as we are, or frustrated that we are not 'as good' as them.  

But that is to compare ourselves with them or them with us, which is a route that leads many away from a dynamic relationship with the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:12).  If we apply our behaviour rules to others, we may even destroy the work God is doing in their lives (Romans 14:15).  It does not help our relationship with the Lord to make ourselves behave in a certain way, even though it goes against our conscience, because a brother or sister sets a different example.  So, Paul warns each believer to think about the effect of their behaviour on others.  It is not right to live as though we have no impact on the lives of others.  It is better not to do something which your conscience allows, rather than to trouble the conscience, or destroy the faith, of other believers (1 Corinthians 8:9-13).

In many ways that is no different from a healthy family life, in which we seek not to offend others although they may think differently to us – because we love them.  But it is much more important in God's family.  If other believers fall because of how we behave, or expect them to behave, then we must seriously think through the ‘rules of life’ which we make for ourselves.  Even if we are settled that something is acceptable before the Lord, if others would be offended, then refrain.  They may still be struggling with some matter which relates to it; let us not turn their struggle into a fall.