Our Obligation

Introduction:

The Obligation Stated

The Identity

We would do well to remember that the identity of the strong and weak is circumstantial.

There will be times when you are strong and there will be times when you are weak.

Don’t be quick to make assumptions.

In a particular circumstance you may be the strong one because,

You have never struggled particularly with what your brother or sister in Christ is struggling with.

You have already struggled with it and found some level of victory over it. This is the superior strength because it makes you both relatable and if you respond correctly it will make you empathetic toward their struggle.

The Imperative

“an obligation” - an act or course of action to which a person is morally or legally bound.

To abstain from this act or course of action would put you in the wrong.

We are told to “bear with the failings of the weak” in this case what does it mean to “bear”?

To bear something can mean

to carry it along - many of you bore your Bibles to church this morning.

to sustain or support it - sometimes things need to be borne up.

to endure it - We might say that this is my burden to bear

Paul has something particular in mind. We are told not just to bear the weak. We are told to bear with the failings of the weak.

This is deeper than just helping someone with a physical need.

We are enduring their failings with them for their good.

What we are enduring with them is their fault. It is a failing on their part. It is a weakness that they have many times because of a choice that they made.

It is admittedly much easier to come along side someone who has been the victim of some unseen hardship. But when the hardship is of their own making we have a tendency to just let them deal with it. “You made your bed now you have to lie in it.”

To summarize Paul’s meaning, I believe it is this; believers have a God given responsibility to put up with each other and reach out to each other.

We don’t get to run away.

We don’t get to push them out.

The Incentive

Clarity

Negative: “not to please ourselves.”

Positive: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

Not only do we have to put up with each other but we also have to be selfless about it.

This is an application of Philippians 2:3–4 “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Humanly speaking we would tend to think, well if I am going to put up with this person I should at least get credit for it.

Neither you nor I have ever done anything purely for the good of someone else. It is a goal to lofty for us to attain in this life, but one that we strive for nonetheless.

The Example Given

Obvious: Jesus

Comparatively, there is no other example of selflessness even worth looking at.

Jesus is the only example of genuine selflessness, in human form, that we will ever see.

Observed: In the Old Testament

Romans 15:3 “For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.””

Paul cites a messianic Psalm to make his point. Jesus was willing to endure shame for the glory of His Father.

There is no greater example of the strong bearing with the weak than Jesus putting up with you and me. He has done it and continues to do it for the glory of His Father in heaven.

What it the point of an example? To learn from it.

Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

When we learn from and apply the example of Jesus from the Scriptures the result will be endurance and encouragement which produces hope.

While we seek for goals too lofty we should not forget that the journey matters nearly has much as the destination.

Hope is the byproduct of the endurance and encouragement that the Scriptures produce when applied. When you apply Scripture an unattainable goal will no longer be discouraging it will be energizing.

The Prayer Offered

Interruptory Prayer

You have heard of intercessory prayer, but have you ever heard of interruptory prayer?

Paul interrupts his message to pray for his readers.

It doesn’t feel like an interruption because he is praying for his readers concerning the topic at hand.

On a side note, learn to embrace interruptory prayer. Allow prayer to interrupt you every day, and even more than once.

Intercessory Prayer

Nature of the prayer:

To - the God of endurance and encouragement

For - harmony among the saints.

Goal of the prayer

The glory of God

Unified saints glorify God

The Message Summarized

Command: Welcome One Another

Welcome: accept or receive

The strong must welcome the weak and the weak must welcome the strong.

Criteria: As Christ Has Welcomed You

Our obligation is ultimately to be Christlike.

Christlikeness is a relational term.

It means that our relationships are driven by grace rather than by ambition.

Conclusion: For The Glory of God

God is most glorified when His people, the church, live in harmonious purpose. That harmony is only achieved when we follow the example of Christ in selflessly bearing with the weaknesses and failings of our brothers and sisters in Christ for their edification.

There is two questions we should ask ourselves as a result of interacting with Romans 15:1-7

What am I doing to unite the church in harmony?

What am I doing to sow disunity in the church?