Summary of passage: We need to subjugate our needs to others’ needs. The Bible was written to encourage us and give us hope. We are to have unity amongst Christians so that we can glorify God and Jesus.
Questions:
3) We are to subjugate our need to others’ needs. We are to have unity amongst Christians in order to glorify the Father and Jesus. We are privileged to have the Bible to guide us and teach us. We are strong and should bear with the failings of the weak and bear the weak up. We are to lead by example as Jesus did.
4) People pleasing is where we do things or tasks so that others are happy, which includes things we probably shouldn’t be doing. Pleasing your neighbor is doing something that the neighbor needs doing and sincerely helping him do it. It’s making others stronger through your help. These are things that make the neighbor a better person and more confident and hopefully more Godly. The difference is the intent behind the act and the results.
5) The big one is where Jesus gave up his life for us. The results are eternal salvation for believers. Everything Jesus did was for others: healing, feeding the 5000, teaching, serving, etc. He is our greatest example.
6) Personal Question. My answer: Selfish. Greedy. At times evil and corrupt. Closed-minded. Ultimately, miserable. I can be very selfish. Greedy. Evil. Definitely. The difference is I fight against that with God’s and the Holy Spirit’s help and I hope I’m making progress, but oftentimes I don’t think so.
Conclusions: I love the strong versus weak analogy. I tend to think of myself as strong and I’m very impatient with those who aren’t. This isn’t necessarily physical. It’s emotional and mental as well. This is a great reminder for me to see others with God’s grace. I also love Paul’s reminder about unity with other Christians (BSF will explore this on Day 3). I have drifted away from weekly church attendance (other than BSF) and I know I need a church home. Desperately so. Perhaps this will “kick me in the butt” to do something about it!
End Notes: Paul says to use your strength to serve your brothers, not just yourself. “Bear with” really means “bearing up” your brother i.e. holding him up. This advice goes against the “me” society today. Paul says if you build up others you will build yourself up in the process.
Paul gives the same advice in Philippians 2:3-4. Put others first. The goal is to make the weak strong.
We are to build each other up; not tear each other down.
Jesus is the ultimate example of one who did not please Himself, but put others first. Paul’s classic development of this idea is in Philippians 2:5-11.
Jesus took fulfilled what was written in God’s word, allowing the Father to vindicate him.
The commandment Jesus fulfilled from Psalm 69:7-9 was written for our learning so that we might have hope, knowing we are doing what is right even when difficult. “You” refers to God and “me” is the righteous sufferer whom Paul identifies with Christ.
Responding rightly bothers people even more. No one can hurt God’s children.
Paul then prays for the Holy Spirit to endow this attitude onto the Romans. Other translations here have “God of patience” instead of endurance. In essence, Paul is saying wait on God’s plan for your life. God’s purpose for your life takes time.
Paul encourages believers not to necessarily have the same conclusions but to agree to disagree in love (Ephesians 4:1-6; Philippians 2:1-5).