Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
I love our church body, our pastors and staff. There is a genuine desire to faithfully teach the word of God and to encourage godly living. That said, I do find holiday services to be a bit frustrating. As a Christian, I come to church to meet God through worship and instruction and feel short changed when a significant portion of the service is spent on special numbers by the choir, solos, and dramatic performances. I prefer to interact with God rather be entertained. This past Sunday I was really struggling with this as we celebrated Easter. Thankfully, God did not allow me to wallow long before He started to convict me to look at the broader picture. First, I know from having sung with the worship team that they are in fact worshipping God as they sing/play. Beyond that, there is the dilemma for those planning the service as they must meet the needs of two very diverse groups: the predominantly Christian group who regularly attends church as well as those who may not yet have a relationship with God and therefore don’t regularly attend. While regular attenders will be familiar with the routine and the worship songs, the latter group will not, making special numbers and dramas a better fit for their needs. To put it in terms of Hebrews 5:12 and 1 Corinthians 3:2 there is a need to provide both spiritual solid food and spiritual milk in the same service. Consequently, I shifted my thoughts from being concerned about what I preferred in worship to praying for those in the congregation who do not yet know Christ as their Savior and Lord.
As Christians we are called to love one another. In the broader scope, not only are we to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, but also our neighbors and our enemies. Romans 12:9-13 says: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” When we truly love others, we follow Christ’s example and give preference to needs of others above our own. (Philippians 2:1-8)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”(Galatians 6:2) Burdens by definition are usually heavy and awkward that’s why we are called to share the load. The awkwardness may be the timing, not having a clear solution, the type of relationship or problems in our own lives. One of the phrases one hears regularly in our church is “life is messy”. If we are truly committed to loving others, the process is not going to be convenient. Their lives are messy and our lives are messy. Yet we are called to rise up and serve through the power of Christ no matter what our circumstances are. We can’t wait for our lives to be perfect or their problems and/or personalities to be reasonable or manageable. We are called to meet each need as it presents itself.
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12) This encouragement covers the spectrum of attributes required to address the afflictions of others. It is our compassion the helps us recognize the need and feel a sense of urgency while it is kindness that moves us to action. Humility allows us to put the needs of others before our own. Gentleness provides sensitivity as we attend to the concern. Patience grants the ability to persevere despite frustrations of time and/or conflict. If we are to act as “unto the Lord” in all things, meeting the needs of others requires all of these qualities.
One of the common drawbacks to sharing the burdens of others, especially when dealing with chronic illness or other trials is the concern that we are barely surviving ourselves and, therefore, fear complete depletion of our resources…physical, emotional, or financial. In these moments we must remember that everything we have and are belongs to God. We are stewards not owners. Further as children of God, we are promised that our needs will be met. Philippians 4:19 tells us: “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Luke 6:38 reminds us: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” The latter is both a warning and a promise. God is willing and able to provide for our needs but we must be willing to do the same for others as we have the opportunity.
When we place the needs of fellow Christians above our own, we strengthen the body of Christ. When we do the same for those outside the church, we testify to God’s goodness and love as well as sharing the gospel in both word and deed. Both will provide a greater sense of peace by shifting the focus away from our own burdens and, more importantly, glorify our God.