“And not to please ourselves”

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let everyone of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself, but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” –Romans 15:1-3

 

At my church, in the youth group, we have opportunities to study God’s Word and to memorize it. We are supplied lists of verses to study on different subjects. For today, I went about studying a verse sheet categorized on “serving.”

 

Lately, I’ve been really burdened for my friends who are struggling and hurting. I love to help people, and it hurts me when my friends hurt—and hurts even more when there isn’t anything I can do.

So, because of that, I’ve been praying hard about a particular friend. Uncertainties cloud my mind as to what I ought to do. I want to help, but I don’t know how. I want to be there for him, but I don’t want to come across as pushy, or overstep any boundaries. (After all, how can I help if I lose him as my friend?)

 

But as I studied that verse sheet Romans 15:1-3 jumped out at me. I am commanded to bear the infirmities of the weak. But in the same breath I am commanded not to please myself. I am to please that person to HIS edification. Not my edification. I’m not to bear his burden so I can fill some void, to appease some longing in my heart, to quench some worries?

No, I am to bear the infirmities of my weaker friends for their edification.

 

May God enable me to remove myself from the picture. May God enable me to launch out in service to my fellow brethren, but for the right motives.

 

Another thought God presented was the fact that even Christ didn’t please himself when he bore the reproaches of the men that reproached us.

From the surface, I am assuming this is a reference to Calvary. So, think about it. Christ was beaten and killed so we could have a sacrifice for salvation.
I kind of always assumed it was dual purpose(and no, not a selfish reason that we, as finite beings, would assume). One was to, obviously, save us. And second so we, His creation, would be able to spend eternity with him.

But, this verse says he didn’t accept those reproaches to please himself. He did it for us. How humbling is that? The God of the universe, that knows all, is all, loves all, is everywhere, is love, is patience and power…that God…He bore our infirmities on the cross…for us as his motivation? Not because he wanted us to be with him for his pleasure, but for our benefit.

Wow.

 

Anyway, that’s what God has recently laid on my heart: Serve others for others’ edification. I hope God can speak to you through this. Life would be tons easier if everyone had a friend they could lean on, who can bear their burdens with them. Someone who will ignore their own pleasures, but seek to help them, to edify them.

 

-Kevin