You Who Are Strong

The second commandment that Jesus spoke of is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  In Romans 15:1-2 it says this, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him.”

This does not mean that we should be people pleasers but we should do things that would be helpful and things that would bless our neighbors without compromising our faith, always speaking the truth in love.  If all you are is a people pleaser, you may have many friends but you will end up telling people what you think they want to hear instead of what they need to hear.

Paul wasn’t teaching that, read what Paul said on this subject in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.”  When Paul had to speak harshly, as in the case of the Galatian church, he did just that, doing it for the good of the church.  Speaking the truth in love may not always be accepted, like Paul and many others can attest to, but it is always the best policy.

Prior to talking about being people pleasers, Paul also talked about causing a brother to stumble.  Some people have a real problem with judging one another because of what they believe or because of their own convictions. Do you know anybody that’s been a Christian a short period of time but seems to know everything there is to know about the Word?  Sometimes these people can seem to be so judgmental about what other believers do.  They seem to think that their way of living and thinking is the only way and they freely express their opinions turning most everyone off that they talk to.  While I am typing this I don’t want you to think this only happens to young believers because I think every believer gets into this judging phenomenon sometime in their Christian walk, to our shame.

Read what Paul had to say about this in Romans 14:11-23:

“For it is written:

‘As I live, says the Lord,

Every knee shall bow to Me,

And every tongue shall confess to God.’

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

We should remember that we are accountable to the Lord for our own actions and not for everyone else’s.  If we try to do our best to encourage, build up and love our fellow believers, we will not condemn ourselves.  It is easy to want to put our convictions on someone else, but it may cause the other person to reject us and become angry, causing the brother to stumble.  I know I have been guilty of this and am truly sorry, and if you are the person I have caused to stumble and you are reading this please forgive me, like I said, I am truly sorry.  Please take this message to heart and repent if you have been a part of this kind of sin, causing a brother to stumble and if possible ask that brother to forgive you also.  Something to think about!  May the good Lord cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace and may you have a super day!!