Enduring Failings

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had" (Rom 15:5).  Interesting thought: We are to ask God to give us the needed endurance and encouragement to regard each other in the same way Jesus regards us.  Is it really that difficult to feel good about each other?  Yeah, it can be.

Now, when everyone does what they are supposed to do, takes care of their own business and makes a positive contribution to the community; feeling good about them is not a problem.  But that isn't always the case and that is not the case Paul has in mind here: "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself..." (Vv. 1-3).

Some people do not have a positive impact on a family or community.  Instead of helping to support, they produce a drain on resources, energy and attitude.  Some people, and perhaps all people at some point, due to their personal failings, make it difficult for others to maintain a positive attitude in their presence.  

As even our Lord said, "Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt 6:34) and so we don't need to be borrowing trouble from the future, the past or from other people.  We've all got our own problems that we are to deal with, "for each one should carry their own load" (Gal 6:5).  And we should carry our own load, except that some our overloaded and some are under developed, so Paul also says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (v. 2).

The law of Christ, the attitude, the mind...  We are to develop an outlook on others that allows for their failings and weaknesses, which seeks to help take up the slack not judge them as slackers.  We are not all at the same physical, mental, financial or spiritual level of development.  Some can carry their own load and part of another's.  Others can only carry part of their own load.  Together, working as one body, we can carry the burdens of the entire community.

The Bible is not saying some should ride on the backs of others, but it is saying that some have stronger backs than others and need to have the Christlike attitude that is willing to encourage those who are failing by giving them a helping hand instead of pointing a judging finger.  We need to care enough about those who are failing to encourage them rather than focus so much on personal advancement that we discourage them "for even Christ did not please himself" (Rom 15:3).  Jus' Say'n.