If You Are Strong Help the Weak! - Romans 15

15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Paul's instruction goes completely against the spirit of our culture right now.  In our society, we see people tearing each other down all the time, especially in the political realm.  Instead of bearing with the failings of the weak, political adversaries look to capitalize on a failing or weakness in their opponents.  Instead Paul writes, if you are strong you should encourage and strengthen a brother or sister who is weak.  We all have moments when we feel weak and inadequate.  Paul talked about his weaknesses all the time.  When you build up someone when they are weak, they may even be the ones there for you when the shoe is on the other foot.  And then he notes the value of the scriptures, which give us endurance and encouragement.  We normally use the word endurance for undertaking a physical challenge, like running in a race.  But Paul likens our spiritual journey to a race.  We get tired, we get weak.  We need others to pick us up when we are at a quitting point. Maybe we can show the world that cutting others down is a lose-lose, whereas building up those who are weak is a win-win. 

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;I will sing the praises of your name.”

In order to carry out this principle we need a certain mindset.  We need the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  Philippians 2:5-11 tells us that Jesus did not consider equality with God as something to hold on to, but emptied himself and became a servant to all, even giving his life on the cross.   When we treat each other like this in the body of Christ it glorifies God and also shows the world the unity we have in Christ. On the other hand when churches get stuck in petty squabbles and divisive quarrels it is a terrible testimony to unbelievers and the world in general. Finally, though Jesus went first to his own people the Jews, God's bigger plan was to make salvation to all people, including the Gentiles.  This was one of the chief purposes of Paul's letter to the Romans.  

Obviously there was a lot of division going on in the church and it seems it had to do with a divisive spirit between Jews and Gentiles.  Paul needed to confront the Roman church in this matter.  One of the greatest signs of a healthy church is how its members treat each other.  Do we bear each other's burdens?  Do we shoot our wounded?  Jesus accepted us when we were weak and had nothing to offer. Let us do the same. 

Who in your life do you need to encourage? Who might have gone through a failing lately?  Who are the people in your community, like the Gentiles, that you need to serve in order to show God's love for all people?