“We who are strong [in
our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the
frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the
doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves. Let each one of us
make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his
true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually]”
(Romans 15:1-2).
Do
you struggle with people? That may sound like a weird question, but we as
humans tend to be so wrapped up into ourselves that we stay focused on that. We
don’t even see or realize the needs around us that are so much more important
then what we are going through. I can say this because I very much struggle with
people. To be honest, I can be the most selfish, self-centered, person I know.
Sometimes I even realize that I can be that way and choose to be selfish
anyway.
I
know that to battle against such struggles we need to NOT act according to our
heart. “He who trusts his heart is a
fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26). Our
hearts can be deceived so easily. Scripture says we need to walk wisely which
is to lead our hearts to what we know to be right. And what we know to be right
is what God’s Word says. The bible never changes and it is always true!
“Those who live according to the
flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in
accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The
mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is
life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not
submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh
cannot please God.” (Rom 8:5-8)
The
opposite of selfishness is Selflessness and the opposite of self-centered is
Christ-centered. So, to act in opposite of our feelings of being selfish and
self-centered, we need to set our minds to be in Christ and His will, which is
mercy (filling a need in another’s life). Your feelings will always follow your
actions and your actions are determined by what and how you think.
I
believe one way to meet a person’s need is to meet him where he is, to bear him
to the Lord, and to accept another freely and gladly as he is. To take another
into one's heart JUST AS HE IS and cherish him there. Mercy takes another's
sins and evils and faults as its own, and frees the other by bearing them to
God.
I
tend to be pretty critical at times being focused on what another person is
doing that is wrong. I tend to judge them and think they are not being very
Godly. The Lord showed me something the other day. He showed me how He sees
such a person who is struggling through life falling all over the place not
doing things right. He showed me that was me! He showed me that I was like that
too especially early on in my walk with Him. I knew very little of my faith and
that I was just starting to learn how to walk spiritually.
Jesus
is very patient with us. We need to be that way with people who rub us the
wrong way, who we think doesn’t have it together. Truthfully, none of us have
it together. A couple of years from now, you may look back to this day and say
how immature of me to act like that. But, it’s just because of where you are at
right now. Its ok to stumble and fall, just don’t stay there!
See,
when we take ourselves out of the equation and replace that with another
person’s need, it is very pleasing to the Lord because that is His heart! That
is MERCY!
Is
there someone in your life that rubs you the wrong way? Do they appear to be not
living according to God’s will? Just accept them for who they are and gently
speak truth into their lives but do it with love and the thought that it wasn’t
that long ago you were there too. But, most of all, tell the Lord about them.
Lift them up to Him and pray that Jesus meets their needs.
-Doug
McGowan
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