Bearing With One Another – Being Like Jesus Romans 15:1-3
Sermon by Pastor Dennis R. Gleason -- October 2, 2005The story is told that Andrew Jackson's boyhood friends just couldn't understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson's friends said, "Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now." Another friend responded, "How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn't they usually say three times and out?" "Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat -- he would never stay 'throwed.' Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner." Picking up on that idea, someone has said, "The thing that counts is not how many times you are 'throwed,' but whether you are willing to stay 'throwed'." We may face setbacks, but we must take courage and go forward in faith. Then, through the Holy Spirit's power we can be the eventual victor over sin and the world. The battle is the Lord's, so there is no excuse for us to stay "throwed"! Our Daily Bread.
1We may know that these things make no difference, but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think these things are wrong. 2We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. 3For even Christ didn’t please himself. As the Scriptures say, “Those who insult you are also insulting me.”
Edgar Guest, a renowned American poet at the turn of the century, tells of a neighbor by the name of Jim Potter. Mr. Potter ran the drug store in the small town where Edgar Guest lived. Guest recalled that daily he would pass his neighbor and how they would smile and exchange greetings. But it was a mere casual relationship.
Then came that tragic night in the life of Edgar Guest when his first Born child died. He felt lonely and defeated. These were grim days for him and he was overcome with grief. Several days later Guest had reason to go to the drug store run by his neighbor, and when he entered Jim Potter motioned for him to come behind the counter. "Eddie," he said, "I really can't express to you the great sympathy that I have for you at this time. All I can say is that I am terribly sorry, and if you need for me to do anything, you can count on me."
Many years later Edgar Guest wrote of that encounter in one of his books. This is how he worded it: "Just a person across the way--a passing acquaintance. Jim Potter may have long since forgotten that moment when he extended his hand to me in sympathy, but I shall never forget it--never in all my life. To me it stands out like the silhouette of a lonely tree against a crimson sunset." Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, Oct 2005.
Our text today challenges us to be in the place where we can be there for each other.
In Galatians 6:2 we are told “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4 “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
What are we to make of this?
We know that the redeemed person, who has been set free from the slavery of sin, has become the bondslave of Jesus Christ.
This means that the believer in Jesus Christ is to live his or her life in such a way that he/she lives as Christ in the world. We are to be like Jesus to the world around us. It is God’s intention for us that we will serve God by serving other people.
31“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34Then the King will say to those on the right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40And the King will tell them, ‘I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
(Matthew 25:31-40)
We who are strong ought to bear with those who are weak.
The key to our text is found in this word: ought. We ought to bear with the weak. The word has a sense of obligation that is very strong. In the early English language ought was the past tense of “owe”. If we possess another person’s property, we owe it to him, and if we owe, we ought to pay. Owe it and ought have the same spiritual sense. Because of Jesus Christ we owe it. Because of Jesus Christ we ought to love and bear with one another.
Jesus did not seek to please himself. He was unselfish.
We must recognize that for human beings it is not normal for us to be unselfish. We live in a selfish world. Sit at a traffic light on your way home and you will see evidence enough of that. How many people will run the light on red as they make a left hand turn? That is only symptomatic of the way the world is. It is a “Me first,” and “Get out of my way” world.
The theme song for the world could well be:
“Oh! What a beautiful morning! Oh! What a beautiful day! I’ve got a beautiful feeling, Everything’s going MY WAY!”
While there are people who will go out of their way for others, much of the world is not into helping others. For example, thousands of people went into the Gulf Coast areas to assist with those whose lives were turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina. Our Jane among them. But most who could have did not.
That reminds me of the stanza of the musical My Fair Lady where her father sings:
“The Lord made man to help his neighbor, Not matter where, on land or sea, or foam, But – with a little bit of luck, With a little bit of luck, When he comes around for help - you won’t be home!”
Of course, if we are going to be like Christ in this world…with a little bit of grace we will be home!
What would we do if Jesus had decided to please himself? What would we do if Jesus had pleased himself and had just gone back to heaven instead of dying for our sin on the cross of Calvary? We would be lost in our sin.
Praise God! He did not seek to please himself. In fact he said, “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will him who sent me.” (John 6:38)Again and again, Jesus affirmed his purpose to do his father’s will.
“Lo, I have come to do thy will, o God.” (Hebrews 10)“My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)“For I have come down from heaven ton to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38)
What was the will of His Father?
The will of His Father was to go to Jerusalem and to be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes to be condemned to death, to be mocked, spit upon, beaten, and the crucified. With his whole being he was aware of what was coming and how horrible it would be. Jesus Christ pleased not himself, but walked steadfastly toward Jerusalem in order that these things might be done to him.
The heart of Jesus Christ was this: Not my will, but thine be done.”
Why did he do the will of the father?
He was committed to the will of his father because he loved his father. He wanted to please his father.
In John14:31 Jesus said, “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”
Jesus has placed us here so that we might represent Him, to bear the infirmities of the weak, and to live in such a way that I am not hurt by the weaknesses of those with whom I have to live.
I do hope that people are able to say of me at the end of my life's pilgrimage: When we were sick he came to us; when we needed help, he was there; when I was down, he lifted me up. In short, I hope that my ministry is remembered for simple acts of kindness. For if that is the case, then my life would have been worth it and I might have come close to fulfilling the greatest commandment in life: Love God and love your neighbor. In that way, I might have truly been like Jesus.--Dennis Gleason
