Looking Out for You? (Part 2)

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself… – Romans 15:1-3 NLT

In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul was concerned about believers’ relationships with one another, especially in matters of opinion that divided the community (see chapter 14). He encouraged the believers to learn to put others first. He was concerned that by focusing on ourselves, we will not know how to handle or deal with the different opinions of believers. If not handled properly, the different opinions will divide us, destroy the community, and weaken our testimonies.

During the Covid pandemic lockdown, we saw a lot of community-based initiatives where people looked out for the welfare of their weak, elderly, and vulnerable neighbours. People would do shopping for their neighbours, helped pick up prescriptions and other community work. We should always be looking out for one another and not only in times of crisis.

If we are to be honest, we all have work to do in putting others first. As Christians, we must not live just to please ourselves and our families. We are not to indulge or gratify every little appetite, craving, desire and wish of our heart and ignoring the need and care of others. When we have this mindset, we begin to learn how to bear the burdens of those who are weak and needy and to please one another. For even Christ did not please himself but lived a life of self-denial which is probably our best argument against selfishness.  

Jesus gave Himself completely to His disciples, the weak and sick, the hungry, the outcast, and the rich and poor. Through His sacrifice of self-denial, suffering and death on the cross, we begin to appreciate the example He laid down for us to emulate.

When we fully give ourselves to the LORD, it should become easier to focus less on our own priorities and be less consumed by our happiness and enjoyment. But the corporate and over-commercialised society we live in today promotes and encourages the pursuit of self-interests and happiness. It encourages people to be more inward-looking and self-focused which can then lead to covetousness, hoarding, selfishness, and a desire to acquire more.

“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” 1Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

Rich believers should seek to use their riches to bless others knowing that it is God who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. They should generously share their wealth with those in need in the church and the community. 

Let us remember that all we have is God’s anyway. There’s nothing that we have that we have not been given. Nothing we can give that has not first been given to us.

Stay blessed,

LaraLex