Wednesday, February 9, 2022
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
Serve
God has really called us into a simple task...SERVICE to others. God 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.
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
