Romans Series # 49 July 31, 2002
Title: A Christian’s "To Do" List Part 1
Website: www.newlifeinchrist.info
Email: pastorsarver@yahoo.com
Introduction: Welcome to New Life in Christ. We are currently in Chapter 12 of Romans as we continue with message #49 of our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Romans.
Read Romans 12:9-13
Opening Prayer
In the early years of our marriage, Amy and I both worked outside the home and often had different days off. On my days off, Amy would often leave a "To Do" list attached to the TV, where she knew I would have to see it. The "To Do" list often contained a variety of things that needed to be done: Mow the lawn, pay bills, go to the bank, etc.. Although the list did not elaborate or give specifics, it was very clear what needed to be done. The only thing that connected the items on the list was that they all needed to be done as a part of my responsibilities within the marriage.
In a way, the rest of Romans Chapter 12 is a Christian’s "To Do" list. This is a list of a great variety of things that Christians need to and should be doing. The list contains short exhortations things to do without much elaboration or necessarily any connection with what proceeds or precedes the particular exhortation. Therefore the rest of Chapter 12 is not composed of any single topic but rather a series of miscellaneous Christian "To Do’s." With that said, let’s look at the first thing Paul mentions on the Christian’s "To Do" list.
1. Love others sincerely.
"Love must be sincere" as Paul says in the beginning of verse 9. This verse could also be translated as, "Love must be without hypocrisy." In other words, our love for others must be genuine or authentic, not counterfeit or feigned. What is the difference between real love and fake love? Actions! Real or sincere love demonstrates itself by doing, i.e. by actively helping others whereas hypocritical love is characterized by inaction. Hypocritical love is characterized by words, hugs, smiles, and best wishes without actually doing are sacrificing anything for others.
Read 1 John 3:16-18
When we’re walking in sincere love it will be evident by the way we live our lives and in the things we do, i.e. in our actions. Those with sincere love: visit the sick and imprisoned and lonely, give to the needy, pray for the hurting, and take time to help others. This love is the real deal. This love is the genuine article. The first thing, the preeminent thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list is to love others sincerely. Now let’s look at the second thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list.
2. Hate what is evil.
Paul’s words here about our attitude toward sinful, immoral things are quite strong. We’re literally to "abhor" those things in life that are wicked according to the word of God. We’re to feel and react to them in the same way as we would react to really messy diaper, "I want nothing to do with it and I want it out of my house and life as soon as possible." This is the attitude that we’re to have toward evil. We’re not to endure it, accept it, or live with it, we are to hate it. We are to hate things like: gossip, promiscuity, deceit of any kind, thievery of any kind, jealousy, lust, pride, divisiveness, etc…
My wife hates bugs, especially roaches and spiders. I know that she really abhors bugs and does not just dislike having them in the house. I know she really hate bugs and does not find them just slightly offensive because of how she reacts to them when she sees one. After screaming for me if I’m around, she will take an entire can of bug spray and use it on one bug. She hates bugs and therefore passionately tries her best to be rid of them, even if that means going overboard. Paul is saying that we’re to have the same attitude toward evil in our lives as my wife has toward roaches. There is to be no place or acceptance of it. Do not endure it, ignore it, put up with it, or be lackadaisical about evil in your home, thoughts, entertainment, words, or the attitude of your heart. Do everything you can to be rid of it, even to the point of going overboard.
The second thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list is to hate what is evil. Now let’s go to the third thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list.
3. Cling to what is good.
With the same kind of passion we’re to have toward ridding our lives of evil, we’re also to have in holding on tightly to what is good. Recent news reports have been filled with reports of child abductions. This has caused most parents take extra care in watching their children. They are holding their hands in malls, they are personally watching them as they play in the front yard, they are avoiding public parks, and they are securing their homes with extra locks and alarms systems. They are in effect clinging or holding tightly to their children so that they will not be lost. This in a sense is how Paul is telling Christian’s to act toward those things in our lives which are good. Hold on to them tightly. Do everything you can to insure they stay in your lives.
What is meant by the word "good?" The Greek word translated as "good" was used of things that were morally good and of things that are beneficial or useful for productive Christian life. Taking this dual meaning into consideration, Paul is telling us to hold tightly to things that are morally good and are beneficial for growing in the Christian life. Things that are good would include things such as: holy and righteous living, Christian fellowship, church attendance, daily Bible reading, daily prayer, time with God, and dedication to serving God’s purposes.
Even though these things are good, they will not stay in your life unless you make the extra effort to "cling to what is good." How many people have let the things that I just mentioned slip from their lives so that they’re hardly present anymore? The answer is far too many. The third thing on the Christian "To Do" list is to cling to what is good. Now let’s take a look at the fourth thing.
4. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
This verse could also be translated, "Love other Christians as part of the family." The main emphasis of this verse seems to be on making sure that we maintain a warm affection for our brothers and sisters in Christ. When a person becomes a Christian, they really become a part of a new family, not just as a child of God, but also as a spiritual sibling of other Christians. This spiritual kinship and the love that accompanies it is mostly manifest in the local congregation. This family love of the church is often so intensive that it even supersedes the love and affection natural families have for one another. This is why it hurts to see Christians move away after all we’re now losing a part of our family, someone who we love. This is why it is such a joy to see Christians who have been away for an extended time return to the congregation; they are family and we react to their return as we would a family member. This is why we rejoice when a fellow Christian gets a job promotion and this is why we’re saddened when a fellow Christian is hurting. The church is not just the club or group of people but it is a family where people love one another as family.
This affection and love for one another is a wonderful thing but it is a love that can be extinguished. A fire in a fireplace will dwindle if it is not stoked and supplied with fuel. A fire in a fireplace can be extinguished if it is doused with water. The same is true of our brotherly love for one another if we are not careful to maintain that devotion to one another. Our brotherly love will dwindle or be extinguished if we do not do our part. Our part is to make every effort to stay close to one another, to guard against developing a hardness of heart that doesn’t care for other’s concerns, and especially to watch out for those things that could put out the fire of brotherly love. Things like: pride, unwillingness to forgive or overlook offenses, petty disagreements, jealousy, demanding our own way, and responding to minor theological differences as though they were major. We must guard against all these things so that we can fulfill the fourth thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list which is: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Now let’s look fifth thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list.
5. Honor one another above yourselves.
Whenever my children get a good grade at school they’re anxious to tell me about their accomplishment even though they know their sibling also did something worthy of recognition and honor. They never say, "Guess what Dad, my sister got an "A" on spelling." Rather they say, "Guess what Dad, I got an "A" in math." Their normal behavior is to seek recognition and honor for themselves. This isn’t true only of children; it is also true adults, although we tend to be more subtle in our approach. As Christians though our minds to be to be transformed into a new way of thinking and part of the new way of thinking means seeking the honor of others above ourselves. This is the fifth thing on the Christian’s "To Do" list.
In essence what Paul is saying is that we should consider others more important than ourselves and that we should strive hard to see that other, not ourselves, are recognized for their contributions and that their desires are attended to. I’ve been in churches were just the opposite attitude was prevalent. People were seeking recognition for their own sacrifices, talents, spiritual gifts, or spirituality. We must be very careful about such an attitude developing in our own hearts. We must be always ready to play second fiddle to others.
I want us to take a moment and ask ourselves some questions honestly. "Am I’m more concerned when others are overlooked or when I am overlooked?" "Do I delightfully strive to see that others are recognized for their value to the body of Christ or do I secretly hope that my value is recognized and appreciated?" The only way the church can operate in a way that glorifies God and fulfills his purposes is if we can truly seek the welfare and honor of others above ourselves.
On Monday morning I was watching the CNN news report. One of the news stories was concerning the victory of Lance Armstrong at the Tour De France race. I was happy to see him win since he is an American, but I was not really knowledgeable about what it took to win the race. I knew that it took a lot of personal discipline and training on Lance Armstrong’s part, but until the news report I was not aware of the part that others played in his victory. According to CNN news the Tour De France is actually a team event. In the report the reporter noted that many members of Lance’s American team, who were also competing in the race, gave up the chance for victory themselves in order that they might deliver water and food to Lance. Sometimes they rode their bikes twice as far as Lance did in order to make sure that he had plenty of water and food. By their own admission they did this just so Lance could be in front. They all worked together to place him in the front even though they knew that most likely they would never receive any recognition for their part in his victory or the large endorsement deals that he was likely to get . This story illustrates how we are to live our lives as Christians. We’re to be willing to take a backseat, to lose the recognition and honor of other along with our own personal desires so that others can be in front.
Conclusion: So far we’ve looked at five things on the Christian’s "To Do" list.
1. Love others sincerely.
2. Hate what is evil.
3. Cling to what is good.
4. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
5. Honor one another above yourselves.
Next week we will continue where we left off. Are there any questions or comments concerning these verses or principles?
