ROMANS 15: 1-6 [CHRISTIAN RELATING SERIES]
PLEASING GOD INSTEAD OF OURSELVES
[Psalm 78:5-7]
Someone once said, "The more I get to know the human race, the more I love my dog." Dogs are loyal, dependable, eager to please, and quick to forgive. Don’t you wish people were more like that?
Yet far to often though we seen these characteristics as signs of weaknesses instead of strengths. May be we need to ask then, "What are the evidences of Christian strength?" Some would say knowledge. Others would say leadership. Others would say the ability to impose your will on others in the church. Scripture says that the evidence of strength in a Christian’s life is the willingness to support and bear up the weaknesses of other Christians (CIT).
Everyone of us is in some way and at some time "the weaker brother." We may be the weaker brother morally, physically, educationally, spiritually or in some other area of our life. We must learn how to relate to the weakness of one another if we are to function as a New Testament church.
God has always been deeply concerned about the unity of His people. In salvation, He has effected a spiritual oneness, through the one faith, one baptism and one Lord experience. He has recreated us to be brothers and sisters baptized into one body, the Body of Christ.
Apart from public sin, nothing shatters the fellowship, the spiritual growth, and the witness of a congregation so much as disharmony among its members. Romans 15 continues Paul’s teaching in the vital importance of unity in the church, here meaning the local church.
True Christian love is not selfish, but seeks the benefit and building up of others. It is even willing to carry younger Christians in order to help them along in their spiritual development. We do not endure them. We encourage them to grow (CIM)! This is the great example Jesus Christ left for us to follow.
I. SUSTAINING THE WEAKER BROTHER, 1-3.
II. TWO SOURCES OF SPIRITUAL ENABLING, 4-6.
Verse 1 relays the responsibility strong Christians have to support the weaknesses of others in the church. "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves."
The fellowship of the saints is not to be broken for unessential matters. We have no right to establish conditions for Christian communion over non-essentials. If a man is a true Christian, he should be recognized and treated as such. If God has received him or her, we should receive him or her.
Paul is addressing the strong and includes himself as one of them. A person’s spiritual maturity is revealed by his discernment. He is willing to give up his rights that others might be helped. He does this, not as a burden but as a blessing. Just as loving parents make sacrifices for their children, so the mature believer sacrifices to help younger Christians grow in the faith. What then ought the strong to do? What is their Christian responsibility toward the weak?
First, the strong ought to bear the weakness of those without strength (1a). To be self-centered and self-seeking is the way of the natural man or the fallen nature. But we ought not use our strength to serve our own advantage (1b). The word ought (opheilo) basic meaning is "owing a debt or having a strong obligation." Strong people are tempted to wield their strength in order to discard or crush the weak. Paul says they ought to us their strength bear them up instead. Both the Greek [verb bastazo] and the English verb ‘bear,’ can mean either to ‘endure’ in the sense of ‘tolerate,’ or to ‘carry,’ and ‘support.’ The context suggests that carry or support is intended here. Bear the weak brother does not indicate exceptional generosity. Supporting the weaker brother belongs to the deepest level of Christian debt, duty and demand. Because Christ has born with me, I am to bear up others. To bear the weaker brother does not mean simply "to put up" with him. It is not to bear with him but to bear him up or to carry him. To respond to a weaker brother may place restrictions and limitations on my own liberty and freedom. Galatians 6:2 commands the we "bear the burden of one another’s failings." The world says crush the weak man. Christ says carry him.
Mature believers are not simply to tolerate those with weaknesses but to help carry them–by not being critical or condescending and by showing respect for sincere views or practices with which we may not agree. The idea is showing genuine love and practical consideration for other believers. One person’s strength can compensate for another person’s weakness.
The second responsibility stated here is, "we who are strong ought... not to please ourselves" (1b). The right use of Christian liberty, which the strong believer understands and appreciates, often involves self-sacrifice. This will mean forfeiting certain liberties and attitudes which when exercised would harm a weaker brother or sister.
Again, to be self-centered and self-seeking is natural to our fallen human nature. But we ought not use our Christian strength to please our self or for our own advantage. As Paul has been arguing, Christians with strong convictions and conscience must not trample on the convictions and consciences of the weak.
Each fall flocks of migrating GEESE can be observed either flying or at one of there many stop offs. As winter approaches, they wing their long flight south. For several weeks these birds fly in long, wavy V-formations, honking as they go.
A friend furthered my education and my appreciation for these visitors from the north. Geese fly at speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour. They travel in formation because as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an updraft for the bird behind it. They can go 70 percent farther in a group than they could if they flew alone.
Christians are like that in a way. When we have a common purpose, We are propelled by the thrust of others who share those same goals. We can get a lot further together than we can alone.
Geese also honk at one another. They are not critics but encouragers. Those in the rear sound off to exhort those up front to stay on course and maintain their speed. We too move ahead much more easily if there is someone behind us encouraging us to stay on track and keep going.
Is there someone flying in formation with you today to whom you might give some "helpful honks?" Remember, we can go a lot farther together than we can alone.
A third responsibility is stated in verse 2. "each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Neighbor-pleasing, which Scripture commands, must not be confused with ‘men-pleasing,’ which Scripture condemns (Gal. 1:10). If we merely set out to please our neighbors, we will be people-pleasers. Paul was opposed to that (Galatians 1:10).
We are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing actions for the sake of building our neighbors up. Our Christian convictions must not be a disguise for cold hearted treatment of our brothers and sisters. Instead of causing to stumble (14:13, 20,21), tearing down (14:20) or damaging (14:15) our neighbor, we are to build him up. Edification is a constructive alternative to demolition. And this up-building of the weak will include helping to educate and so strengthen their conviction conscience.
Paul encouraged the stronger Christians to avoid causing undue distress on the weaker ones by respecting their opinions even when disagreeing with them. Does this mean that any opinion is to be tolerated in the fellowship without being able to correct inaccurate or unchristian positions?
No. One of the opportunities given to the church is to "edify" the weaker members. To edify means to promote another’s growth in Christian wisdom, holiness and spirituality, thus helping them become more mature in their Christian experience and convictions. This needs to be done in a way that is not belittling, condescending, or confrontational.
An excellent example of such edification is found in the way that Priscilla and Aquila taught Apollos, the ardent preacher. When they heard him preach, they "took him and expounded to him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:26, RSV). They did not just tolerate his inaccurate theology, but they took him aside and helped him grow.
Building up others in faith is to be centered in the Bible. It takes patience, faith & love. When such growth takes place, the unity of the body is enhanced.
Once again Paul adds a theological foundation to his appeal. This time it concerns Jesus Christ himself, who is now mentioned in almost every verse, with particular reference to His example. Why should we please our neighbor and not ourselves? The reason God can require us to please others instead of our self is seen in verse 3a. "For even Christ did not please Himself""
Of course, the great example of this is our Lord Jesus Christ. This simple statement is a summation of the meaning of the incarnation and the character of Christ’s earthly life. He pleased the Father and others and not Himself.
Who was more free from legalism, taboos and inhibitions than He? Yet who was more careful to bear with the weaknesses of others? It is so easy for a man whose own conscience is quite clear about some course of action to snap his fingers at his critics and say "I’ll please myself." He has every right to do so, but that is not the way of Christ. His way is to consider others first, to consult their interests and help them in every possible way. "Even Christ pleased not Himself," if He had done so we might wonder in what respect His life and ministry would have taken a different course from the course they did take. But the sense is that Christ did not put His own interests or welfare first. Christ put the interests of others before His own. Certainly He put the will of God first over all as is suggested by the quotation of Psalm 69:9. "The reproach of those who reproach You fell on Me."
This citation vividly describes the unjust, unreasonable suffering of a righteous man for doing right. He identified Himself with the Father and with those He came to save so that the insults cast upon them fell upon Him also. The man who lives for others will know hateful men’s insults.
Does a strong Christian think he is making a great sacrifice by pleasing others instead of himself? Then let him measure his sacrifice by the sacrifice of Christ. No sacrifice we could ever make could match the life of Christ and the death of Christ.
II. TWO SOURCES OF SPIRITUAL ENABLING, 4-6.
Now Paul shares two sources of spiritual power from which we must draw if we are going to be able to have a life that ministers to the needs of others instead of self-promotion: the Word of God (v4), and Prayer (v5-6).
Verse 4 states the church and individual believers need Scriptures that we might have perseverance, encouragement, and hope. "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of Scriptures we might have hope."
Whatever was written in earlier times obviously refers to the divinely-revealed truths we now call the Old Testament. They were written for the times in which they were recorded but also for our instruction, for God’s people in the present age. Though we are not bound to obey all of the commands of the Old Covenant and not everything is of equal spiritual benefit, it still has value for Christians of Paul’s day and of our day as well.
Most of us have heard of PEYTON MANNING because he’s been quarterback of the University of Tennessee, Indianapolis Colts, and the Denver Broncos. He been the NFL’s Most Valuable Player and won the Super bowl. But there is something else that Peyton Manning does that you may not know. For many years, when certain competitors Manning admired were retiring from the NFL, he took time to hand write a note to them, congratulating them on their careers and their character.
Each recipient who was interviewed by ESPN expressed deep appreciation that one of the greatest players of all time would do that. It was a great reminder of the power of the written word.
While a written note from a respected athlete such as Peyton Manning has much value, no human’s words can compare with the written Word we have from God in Scripture. In the life-changing wisdom of the Bible, we have a personal message that tells us what God desires for us to be and what He desires to be for us. He has given us His written Word so we "might have hope" as we face the issues of life. Out of gratitude, let’s read God’s written message-and watch it change our lives. For God speaks through His Word to those who listen with their heart.
We must each confess that sometimes we get impatient with immature Christians just as parents become impatient with their children. The Word of God can bring us perseverance and encouragement that we need. Perseverance, which is related to patience, is continuing surrender, faithfulness, and obedience to the Lord through all the circumstances.
God also gives us encouragement to persevere. He provides this impetus by means of the Scriptures which chronicle all the reasons to keep believing. The Scriptures give us motivation to sustain hope in the future.
Hope can be misplaced. It can be in riches, or in men or reliance on ideals or the government and thus it eventually proves false and we become disillusioned. Our hope needs to be first in God. Founded in who He is; His character and attributes. Then educated by the Scripture we have proper hope concerning the daily, personal, temporal, earthly issues of human life. This hope promotes a better adjustment to life, and greater success both for individual and the body of Christ.
God’s Word and promises will sustain us and direct us that we may live in hope (Ps. 119; 116, 49, 130:5). Divine instruction is a prevention to despondency, and assistance in our trials. It is intended to assist us in the attainment of the great object of our hopes, blessedness of heaven. God or Christ is the highest object of hope for in Him we possess a glorious eternal future.
The knowledge of the Scripture affects our attitude toward the present and the future. The more we know about what God has done in years past, the greater the confidence we have about what He will do in the days ahead. The lessons of endurance which are taught and the encouragement which they supply to faithfulness are strong incentives to the maintenance of Christian hope. We should read our Bible diligently to increase our trust that God’s will is our best hope for our best future. God will speak words of love, faith and hope to your heart and mind through the living voice of Scripture.
One day in the 1950s, Mickey Mantle was having a bad day with the Yankees. After striking out repeatedly, he was really getting down. "When I got back to the clubhouse," he recalled, "I just sat down on my stool and held my head in my hands, like I was going to start crying. I heard someone come up to me, and it was little Tommy Berra, Yogi’s boy, standing there next to me. He tapped me on the knee, nice and soft, and I figured he was going to say something nice to me like ’You keep hanging in there’ or something like that. But all he did was look at me, and then he said in his little kid’s voice, ’You stink."’ [Greggery C. Ward and Ken Burns, Baseball: An Illustrated History. New York: Alfred A. Knoph, 1994, p 311].
Sometimes it’s hard to find a good word. But we always find encouragement in the presence of the Lord and His Word. For through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we have hope. Don’t rely on others to impart the cheer only God can give when life stinks.
Scripture also can bring about like mindedness which we find in verse 5. "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus."
Paul closes this section praying for his readers, that they might experience the spiritual unity that only God can give. The implication is that the local church must major in the Word of God and prayer. The first real danger to unity of the First Church of Christianity, the Jerusalem Church, came because the apostles were so busy they could not adequately minister the Word and pray (Acts 6:1-7). When they found others to share their burden, they returned to their proper ministry, and the church experienced harmony and growth.
Paul’s prayer is that God, through the Scriptures, might give them perseverance, encouragement and unity of purpose. What God demands of them in verse four He gives to them by the working of His grace through the Word and prayer in verse five. God gives the perseverance and encouragement He requires.
When Scripture is well received the Holy Spirit brings forth His mind in the life of the believer and then in the life of the local church. This unity of mind is unity in Christ for only when we focus and abide in Him will there be agreement. As we agree with Jesus about the purpose He has for our lives and church we will more and more agree with one another. God will supply His harmony as we let the Spirit of Jesus apply it to our life. There will be unity with the will and purpose of Jesus and then unity or harmony with each other.
Even in areas where the Bible is silent, there can be unity. Disagreement about nonessential issues will come about but it should not cause conflict between believers. Paul calls on believers, despite their differing views, to be in loving, spiritual and brotherly harmony with one another according to the common purpose of their calling.
God loves harmony in interpersonal relationships. When Christians live in harmony, it is music to the ears of the Lord. When husbands and wives are loving each other, looking out for each other, and serving each other, it is like a symphony for the angels. If you are musically inclined, you know that harmony is not achieved without effort. You have to work at it and practice until you get it right. Interpersonal harmony is no different. In today’s passage, we are not simply directed to live in harmony. We are encouraged by the fact that God "gives endurance and encouragement" to our efforts. He is not just commanding harmony; He is also empowering us by His own Spirit.
Inter-personal harmony is not the fake patching over of disagreement. It is not living a shallow life to avoid conflict. It is not avoiding all discord. On the contrary, it is doing the hard work it takes to live in peace and understanding. The honest and respectful working out of disagreements is akin to practicing music together until it starts to sound really good. The fact that it takes time and energy to get it doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. So don’t avoid healthy conflict. Work out those interpersonal issues with grace and patience. The end result will be a beautiful song that delights you, your loved ones, and the God who is empowering you to make beautiful harmony.
Verse 6 is a purpose statement (hina, clause) that states what will occur if we will allow Christ to harmonize us through His Word, His Spirit, and prayer. We will give glory to God in corporate worship. "So that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
The result of this singleness of purpose is to glorify God, not to please other believers. Disunity and disagreement with each person going their own way does not glorify God. A refusal to unify and agree in Christ keeps the worship experience from glorifying God.
Abraham’s words to Lot are applicable to today; "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee....for we are brethren" (Gen. 13:8). The neighbors were watching! Abraham wanted them to see that Lot and he were different from them because they worshiped the true God. In His prayer in John 17, Jesus prayed for the unity of the church to the glory of God (John 17:20-25).
If you scatter the grains of dynamite or TNT and ignite them individually at the same time, there is burning but no explosion. But if you pack enough of it tightly together you can blow a mountain down. Mountains doubt, sin, discouragement will be blown away by a church that worships Jesus in unity. Unity in the church will remove all the mountains the world, the flesh and the devil bring against it.
Thus, the one mind is expressed through one heart and voice. Without the unity of mind and heart that Jesus brings, worship is impossible.
CONCLUSION
An attitude of forbearance and tolerance of our very real weaknesses will promote a spirit of like-mindedness, of Christi-mindedness, in the fellowship. The goal of the church is undermined when the fellowship of the saints is marred by suspicions and dissensions. Unless we bear with one another, the church cannot be the church.
Through perseverance and the encouragement of Scripture, God grants us unity in Christ Jesus. Therefore, receive one another, build up one another, and please one another according to Christ’s example, and glorify the Lord with your worship!
