In the culture of the time when the apostle wrote, religion and the business world were highly intertwined. To be successful in business it was necessary to socialize with other businessmen; that’s what led to your contacts for more work. This socializing happened around festivals to idols, specifically the patron god of the business in which you were engaged. Animal sacrifices made to the patron god of your business were roasted and distributed for consumption in a social meal. So you were confronted with the question of whether you as a Christian could eat food sacrificed to idols (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:1–13). The teacher of the “stumbling block,” in the style of Balaam, said it was acceptable.
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.