Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. – Romans 15:2
The concept of sharing can be a difficult one to teach to young children. Most toddlers don’t understand why they can’t have everything they want at exactly the moment they want it. Although it looks different from sharing taught to toddlers and young children, the concept of sharing and supporting others can also be a difficult one for adults to understand, even as believers in Christ.
Today’s culture tends to teach people to look out for themselves rather than others. But as usual, the Bible teaches the opposite. In Romans, Paul specifically calls those who consider themselves strong to use their strength to help their brothers and sisters around them. The way to true happiness and fulfillment, according to Paul, is to start building others up. In doing so, you will find yourself built up. Paul is not saying that Christians are to become “people-pleasers” or allow those that are weak to rule the church. Instead, he is simply challenging the church to act in a way that bears the good of their neighbor in mind.
Not unlike the child who must be taught not to grab the toy and say “MINE!,” believers need to learn to notice those around them and not focus on themselves alone. God may be challenging you today. Be conscious of how you act each day. Ask the Lord if your actions benefit someone else or only yourself. And pray for those in authority in the United States. Ask that God would give them a heart focused on what is good for those they are serving.
Today’s Verse: Romans 15:2
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Philippians 2:1-8
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
