Romans 15:1-7 Never judging but always uplifting

Romans 15:1-7

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Background

Paul continues by pointing to the example of Christ who did not despise man’s failings but identifies with our weaknesses and was punished on our behalf. Hence, believers are obligated to bear with another’s failings and build up one another. The main thrust of Christianity is to accommodate with the failings of the weak while walking with them towards the goal of Christ-likeness. Unity is the result of identifying and walking with one another in harmony towards Christ-likeness.

Observation

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

The question is: how could we help those who are weak? Instead of beating them on the head with a standard that is beyond them, we have to empathize with their weaknesses and walk with them at their level: Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. We are not to impose on them a standard that may come naturally for us: not to please ourselves. Taking the example of Christ who identified Himself with the failings of corrupted men and suffered on their behalf. Christ was not punished for His own sins but for the sins of others. To support his statement, Paul quotes from Psalm 69:9, referring to Christ, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me” can be translated as: The punishment of those who sin against God fell on Me. Here, Christ did not please Himself by dissociating Himself from our failings but took on our weaknesses and punishment on our behalf. Likewise, we should also identify with those who are weak and walk with them.

For example, believers who are weak tend to focus their prayers on their problems. More mature believers despite their own struggles tend to focus on God’s mission knowing that their problems will eventually be solved. However, mature believers must learn to identify with weaker believers by empathizing with their fears and brokenness. We must actively listen to the voice of their heart and feel with them; and not to dismiss them. As Christ comes to identify with the weaknesses of ordinary men and feel with them, we must likewise do so with one another.

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Paul sums up the thrust of Christianity as the practice of accommodating those who are weaker and walking alongside with them; not to please ourselves by despising them and dismissing their struggles as meaningless. God will grant those who are mature with much endurance to lift up those who are weak thus achieving harmony and unity in the community: to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. The main cause of disharmony in the church is due to differing levels of spiritual understanding and maturity. As the less mature tend to be inconsistent with their commitment towards the things of God, the more mature believers ought to exercise grace and patience towards them. Only by doing so can the church glorify God with one voice: that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth

1.    The first step to harmonising people of differing maturity and background is to care enough to listen and to identify with one another. Unity and harmony is the fruit of empathy. By actively listening at an emotional level, we begin to build one another up through grace and love.

2.    The fastest way to build up those who are weak is to help them depend on God. By helping them establish a daily discipline of reading the word and connecting with the Spirit, we help them to depend on God. One can begin cultivate dependence on God by learning to hear God’s voice through the written word. By doing so, the believer creates his own system and energy for growth. The strong believers are those who draws strength directly from God, rather than from people around them. A believer who is “weak” in faith tends to draw approval from those whom he perceives as strong. However, in the event if he sees a “contradiction” in those whom he perceives as strong, he will stumble. But if he has already been connected with the Perfect One, there is no case for stumbling.

Application

1.    Do not be quick to provide solutions to those who needed your help, but rather take time to listen and direct them to God. Take time to listen to God with them and to discern His voice. In doing so, he begin depend less on man and more on God.

2.    Refrain from judging another especially those who persist in their weakness. The tendency is to judge them as unspiritual and give up on them. As believers our responsibility is walk with them and continue to speak the truth. For, they are directly accountable to God for their actions.

Dear Lord, help me to be wise and nurturing knowing that You have been patient and gracious towards me. Give me the wisdom to know how to direct others to depend on You and to speak a timely word of encouragement. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.