Based on Romans 15:1-6 (New King James Version)
“We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.’ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
One of the things that makes following Christ difficult is making God and others the priority, putting them before our own desires and wants. Why is it difficult? Because we live in a world that pushes us to make ourselves happy. In today’s society exists now more than ever the teaching of satisfying yourself. There are more and more altars of egocentrism and self-glorification being raised. A very clear message that is broadcast, for example, is: “Only you can make yourself happy.” There are many motivational speakers and modern-day philosophers that compel you to fulfill your desires, to follow your goals, and to get to what you want no matter what you have to sacrifice. And even more so, many false gospels have appeared that teach that faith is what helps you get what you want. And according to those gospels, God is not the Lord. Instead, God is your servant and your faith makes Him work for your happiness. And of course, in that enters prosperity and other things. In a nutshell, that which is pagan, worldly, and even so-called “evangelical”; all broadcast self-satisfaction.
Is it wrong to search for some sort of personal happiness? Not really. But, not at the expense of dethroning God from first place, and also turning other human beings that surround you into your peons or subjects. In my humble observations, I have been able to notice that what makes the world we live in so evil is the level of egocentrism that exists. The majority of people only want to take something from others. That’s why marriages and families break apart, because there are two people competing to fulfill their own desires. Everyone wants to pursue their own successes, and the cost does not matter (of course, what the cost is to the other person). There are not that many people that want something good for the other person. And many try to take advantage of the good will that few people have, those who are not selfish. For instance, the person that steals does not care about the other person because their desire to have what the other person has is greater than the harm they cause. The person that cheats on their spouse cheats because their desire to experience an adventure or satisfy their own needs is greater than thinking about the pain they will cause the other person. And well, their selfishness makes them destroy their family as well. When evil is done, people are only thinking about themselves, as opposed on those that are being affected. And of course, the person that thinks more in themselves does not think about others, and least of all God. They also lack the capacity to think about other people that may be suffering around them as well. Most people are impenetrable when it comes to paying attention to other people’s needs.
What we see in today’s passage goes completely against what is happening in today’s society. God calls us to help each other, to build each other up, to be able to help those people that truly have needs and are suffering. God is the priority, and by virtue that God is the priority, our neighbor should turn into our priority. Here is where we can see someone’s true spirituality; not in how nice or spiritual they sound, but rather, in their actions. The Bible teaches us this also: “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19. So then, those that are great do what God says, not just talk or preach about it.
One of the things the Lord Himself prayed for us was so that we can have a genuine unity; among those that follow Him. In addition, the only way that the world will know that God sent His Son to this world is through our unity. For it is written: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21. We might have different ideas or ways of being, but, if we believe just as the Bible teaches, we need to be united, watching out for the needs of those that surround us, and vice-versa.
The only thing that can separate us as the body of Christ is sin. In other words, when a person that calls themselves a follower is living a lifestyle of sin. For it is written: “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. Sin destroys everything, even the unity and love that God calls us to have with each other. But also, and based on looking for each other’s wellbeing, we are called to help each other leave behind those things that only bring destruction. We have to be clear in the wrong that someone is doing, but not for judgment. Instead, we need to admonish in love, counseling people by considering your own weaknesses. Because we are taught this also: “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20.
In summary, those that are in Christ are there to help other believers, and also help those people that need God’s salvation. But, you always need to keep this thought in mind, being careful in everything that you do: “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘If you return, then I will bring you back; you shall stand before Me; if you take out the precious from the vile, you shall be as My mouth. Let them return to you, but you must not return to them.” Jeremiah 15:19.
So then, are you helping your neighbor find their way to Christ, and building up your family in the faith? Lord bless! John