"Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself." (Romans 15:1-3)
It isn't new news that we live in a self-centered world. It was the way of life in the Garden of Eden and extended to the days of Paul, as he reflected in his reminder to the saints of their responsibility to not just to please themselves, but to please their neighbors. But, who was their neighbor? To Paul's audience, it was those who were weaker in the faith, those who needed a word of encouragement, perhaps those who had stepped off the slippery slope, or those who were unsure of their walk with God.
Because of our self-centered attitudes, we stand oblivious to the neighbors God has placed in our midst. So we judge and condemn, we stand opinionated against their beliefs, but in doing so we violate the admonishment of Paul to look for ways to please our neighbor for "his good, to his edification." After all, Christ went to great lengths for the sake of our good, then if we are to grow into His image, shouldn't we? But, we need to open our eyes and our hearts to see the neighbors God wants us to edify, and in the process reflect Him in all that we do.
As I sit here in a coffee shop, I am reminded of my responsibility and challenged to respond to Paul's charge, as a gentleman has just approached me to share the same table with me. And as he chats on his cell phone, in a volume that could be considered "intrusive" to my private time in devotions, I don't know who he is, what his background is or his belief, but if I am to be a reflection of Christ, then the eyes of my heart must be open to see what I can do, who I can be as a neighbor to him, not looking to what will please me, but how I might be an encourager towards him.
And the same can be said to whomever I meet today. Life is not about me, not about my pleasures, nor my comfort, but to please my neighbor "for his good, to his edification," even if it means to take it to the lengths of what Christ did for me.
Father, open the eyes of my heart that I might see who You would wish that I see as my neighbor today and to look for ways to edify my neighbor to his good. Thank you for the sacrifice You made for me; may I return the same for my neighbor.
