Living with Others
The Bible is filled with
admonitions on how to build better relationships and
how to live with other people. A few years ago I
read through the Bible marking all the passages that
speak of personal relationships. I was amazed at the
hundreds of passages that teach us how to live with
one another. Here are a few glimpses at
relationships in Romans 12-15.
See yourself as equals. Do not look down on
other people with arrogant pride (Romans 12:3).
Do not think more highly of yourself than you
ought to think, but “think as to have a sound
judgment, as God has allotted each a measure of
faith” (v. 3). A good healthy Biblical self-esteem
goes a long way in developing a winsome witness for
Christ. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us
strip away all conceit in our lives. There is
nothing so shallow as spiritual conceit.
"Be of the same mind toward one another; do
not be haughty in mind, but associate with the
lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation"
(Romans 12:16).
Christians need to respect each other’s
spiritual gifts (vv. 4-8). We all enjoy the same
relationship with Christ as members of the body in
Christ, but the Holy Spirit has given us different
gifts according to His sovereign choices and needs
in the body (v. 6). We need to exercise these
spiritual gifts and not try to mimic someone else’s
gift or envy them. We need to respect each other and
appreciate how the Holy Spirit has chosen to use us
in the kingdom of God. We need to honor and respect
our own humble calling and place our service in the
body of Christ. There is no place for envy,
green-eyed jealousy or conceit in the body of
Christ.
Don’t be “two-faced.” The apostle Paul said,
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil;
cling to what is good” (v. 9). Do you hate evil
wherever it is found? Love does not wear a mask. It
is honest, open and genuinely transparent.
Love without hypocrisy.
“Abhor what is evil.”
“Cling to what is good.”
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love”
(v. 10a).
“Give preference to one another in honor” (v.
10b).
Serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not
lag behind in diligence, but be fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord (v. 11).
“Rejoice in hope, persevering in tribulation,
devoted to prayer” (v. 12).
Be giving people. “Contributing to the needs
of the saints, practicing hospitality” (v. 13).
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep” (v. 15).
How do you treat your enemy? “Bless those who
persecute you; bless and curse not” (v. 14).
“Never pay back evil to anyone” (v. 17a).
“Respect what is right in the sight of all
men” (v. 17b).
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be
at peace with all men” (v. 18).
“Never take your own revenge, beloved, but
leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written,
‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the LORD’”
(v. 19).
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he
is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you
will heap burning coals upon his head” (v. 20).
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good” (v. 21).
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one
another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled
the law” (13:8).
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love
therefore is the fulfillment of the law” (v. 10).
“Accept the one who is weak in faith, but not
for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions”
(14:1).
Do “not put an obstacle or a stumbling block
in a brother’s way” (v. 15b).
“Let us pursue the things which make for
peace and the building up of one another” (v. 19).
“We who are strong ought to bear the
weaknesses of those without strength and not just
please ourselves” (15:1).
“Let each of us please his neighbor for his
good, to his edification” (v. 2).
“Accept one another just as Christ also
accepted us to the glory of God” (v. 7).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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