We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 15:1-6)
Selfishness is a word which characterizes our society. People seem to be out for all they can get, even at the expense of others. Unfortunately, these forces for self-gratification are fed by many opportunistic forces in the commercial media. We are informed that we need and even deserve more than we have, and that getting more ought to be a high priority. Indeed, many insist that getting more is why we are here. So people buy the lies and our society becomes even more self-centered.
But while selfishness may characterize our society, it should never characterize the Church of Jesus Christ. In fact, instead of selfishness, we are to be characterized by selflessness.
Just before Jesus went to the Cross, He made the following request in prayer to God on behalf of all Christians. "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity …" (John 17:21-23a)
In these verses of Scripture, Jesus emphasizes His desire for the Church to be together in unity. Unity for all believers was and is a priority with our Lord. His strategy for evangelism is based on the unity of His people. Unity should be a word which characterizes the Church. The world may be caught up in selfishness, but the Church needs to be bound together in unity. As we sing our little chorus, "We Are One In The Bond Of Love," we should be testifying both to our commitment to and our practice of unity in the fellowship of the local church.
Living together in unity should not simply be a good theological concept, but it should also be the daily practice of how we live our lives because unity is so powerful. Vance Havner used to say, "Snowflakes are frail, but if enough of them get together they can stop traffic."
But you may be saying, "How can I be united with people who are not like me? What about those with whom I disagree?"
No doubt you have heard the little rhyme:
To dwell above with saints we love,
That will be grace and glory.
To live below with saints we know;
That's another story!
Indeed, that can be a problem. But the real problem is that we part ways over the non-essentials, simply because we don’t see eye to eye. Obviously, we don’t all think alike, and it could go without saying that we don’t all always agree. When any group of people gets together, there is usually some diversity, especially over the non-essentials of our faith. The question is: Can we have unity in such diversity? Is it possible to truly accept all people uncritically in Christian love, even those with whom we differ?
The answer to that question is a resounding YES. It is not only possible, but it is our Lord’s will. Our text gives us clear instruction for living unselfishly with other believers. By learning these lessons well, not only will our lives be more fulfilled, but the lives of other struggling people will be touched by God’s grace through us.
In our text, we will see concerning unity in diversity, a principle, a prototype, and a provision.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. (vv. 1-2)
In the previous chapter, Paul has been pleading with the Christians in Rome to lay aside the non-essential differences of opinion and walk together in love and unity. This fifteenth chapter of Romans is a continuation of this concept. For the Church of Jesus Christ to prosper and for the testimony of Christ to be shared to the world, it is of the utmost importance that people see we are pulling together for one purpose.
You could call this the principle of unity in diversity. In every church, there are believers who are more mature than other believers. Obviously, there are some who are stronger and others who are weaker. Some have been walking with the Lord for twenty years and some are newborn babes in Christ. But we are all one family. We are one in Christ, and it is important how we manifest that unity.
Being strong in Christ means that we have certain responsibilities that go with that strength. Verse one tells us that those who are strong need to bear the weaknesses or failings of the weak. If unity is to be maintained in the local church, much of the responsibility falls upon the shoulders of the strong. Those who are more mature have a responsibility to care for those who are less mature, who fail because they are weaker.
What is in view here is discipleship. Whenever people are added to the family of God, it becomes the responsibility of the stronger brothers and sisters to assist in the care and feeding of the younger ones. Just as it is not every man for himself in the human family, so it is not in the spiritual family.
When a newborn babe comes into our homes, great care is given to a consideration of his every need. We understand that a child needs care, support, education and good examples to follow. He needs love and encouragement, and we are there to provide it for him. So it is in the family of God. Those who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength. It is our duty to do so. Jesus said that we were to make disciples, not merely to give them the right hand of fellowship.
People sitting all around you this morning are at various stages of need. Some people are lonely and they need a friend. Will you be their friend? Some people have a personal problem and they need a listening ear. Will you be that ear? Some people are discouraged and they need a positive word. Will you be that word? Some people may have a material need which you could supply. Will you be that supply? Some people need spiritual counsel to apply the principles of God’s Word to a situation in their life. Will you give that counsel?
Different people in different places with different needs — who will meet their needs? Will you? Will you take the time, the trouble to be there for them? You see, discipleship is a slow process. It means taking time with people. It means investing your life in the life of another. It means a repudiation of selfishness to see God’s best in someone else.
How we are willing to help is important. In the latter part of verse one through verse two, we are told to do this not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. The purpose for which we care for one another is not merely to benefit ourselves, but that our brother or sister would be built up in the faith.
Our care has for its goal the accomplishing of God’s purpose in the life of our brother or sister. What we are trying to do when we take time to care for one another is to help one another see more clearly how to follow Jesus. You see, it’s not a question of my interests or your interests. It’s a question of Christ’s interests.
Our unity is based on our commitment to follow Jesus. The extent to which we help one another is the extent to which we point one another to Him. You see, we are not trying to please one another based on human self-interest. We are trying to help one another be more fulfilled in Jesus.
For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (vv. 3-4)
Jesus Himself is our divine prototype. He is the example of how to live out the principles of the Kingdom of God. The Bible says that we are to follow in His steps. So what did Jesus do in His situation? Simply put, he was a man for others. Verse three says that He did not please himself. Jesus did not come to live among us to benefit Himself. His motivation was not personal gain. He said He did not come to be ministered to, but to minister to others.
This is the example that we are to follow. And just as Jesus was a man for others, so we must also be for others. Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father. He came to accomplish the purposes of God, and we must do likewise. We must do so because Jesus is our example. We must do so because it is our duty. And we must do so because others need us.
What Jesus gave cost Him. Those "reproaches" Jesus suffered on our behalf were not without price. He laid down His life for us, and as believers we are called to lay down our lives for one another. If we would bear His name, we must follow His example. It will take our time, our energy, and our money. It will cost us. But what will come forth from our work will be born of the Spirit and will be used of God to bless others with fresh life in Christ.
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (vv. 5-6)
Thankfully, God does not leave us without the power to accomplish His work. Here we have the provision for unity revealed in verses five and six. When you need perseverance and encouragement, the place to go is to the God who gives it.
Someone said, "Where God guides, He provides," and I believe it’s true. If we will look to Him in our need, He will supply that need. When we need power to love one another, He will give us power. When we need power to be united together, He will give us that power. The key is to come to Him, for He is the Divine Source of the power. God both has and is the provision for our need. And it is safe to say that He is the only real provision for us to live in unity in the local church.
There is no doubt that God wants us to be united. Notice the emphasis on unity in verses five and six. He prays that God would grant us a spirit of unity to be with one heart and mouth glorifying God. That’s unity. And if we are to possess that unity, we must rely upon the God who is able to give us that unity.
And when we become united like this, we will find that God can use us powerfully. Bruce Shelley, in his book, What is the Church, says, "In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. ‘What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?’ asks Linus. ‘These five fingers,’ says Lucy. ‘Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold.’ ‘Which channel do you want?’ asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, ‘Why can't you guys get organized like that?’"
Verses five and six are a kind of benediction by Paul in this first section. It is his intent to point us back to the God of heaven, before Whom we stand, and Whose we are. It is his intent to point us to Jesus, the Source of life for each of us. This is the Christian’s real need. As we surrender to the Lord Jesus, He will give us the power to walk together in diversity, but also in unity.
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