Now we who are strong ought to bear the
weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us
is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
Romans 15:1-2
Romans 15:1-2
God has really called us into a simple task...SERVICE to
others. God as our Master has given a
single order...Serve others as Christ served.
The thing that seems to intervene in our service to others is our
feeling of personal rights. It is not
like the Bible did not expect this to be a problem. Many scriptures speak of the attitude that
must accompany Godly service...an attitude of selflessness. Here lies the real
problem...the heart of a man.
Paul strikes a powerful blow to us in our feeling of personal
rights in this chapter of Romans. There
is an ongoing hunger in the life of every person for acceptance. It is what drives us into social order and
relationship. The fact that you regard
me as worthy of your presence, love and support validates me as long as you are
accepting me as I am and not as I am “ACTING.”
The call of God to Christian service involves the
responsibility of Christian patience with others. To "bear the
weaknesses" does not mean to solve their problems. God never made us responsible for another
man's burden. To "bear" in this passage is a word that
means to endure patiently.
There is a stone in my office that reads, "Please
be patient. God is not finished with me
yet." How true it is. The cry here is for us not to demand the spiritual
perfection of others that we have not achieved ourselves...or even to demand
what we have achieved.
God is dealing with every individual at their personal pace
of growth. The fact that someone does
not agree or does not act properly does not mean they are less than you. When someone says, “that is just the way I am", they may be sharing a place of
weakness rather than personality.
A major problem for these people was cultural differences and
expressions of worship. Paul told the church at Rome, Now
accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing
judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but
he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with
contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge
the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of
another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord
is able to make him stand. (Romans
14:1-4) Methods of
ministry and worship are varied but we are all responsible to God. The key to the need outlined is "not pleasing ourselves".
The course of self-denial is the only course for the
believer. Anytime that you can serve God
and always get your way, you can know that you have lost somewhere the servant
spirit that is sensitive to others. The
Christian is most pleased with himself when others are benefited.
This is a good word for all believers seeking a fellowship
that is for all people.
Scripture to Claim:
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the
interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4
