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Are You Strong and
Faithful in All Things?
Chris E. Steele
What kind of person would walk by another human
being who was robbed, wounded, and left for dead? Jesus said that
religious people who claim to love God, will do this (Luke 10:29-37).
What kind of person would not try to do something to help a friend
who was being mistreated? Evidently those who would be considered
“best friends” will turn and run when their own welfare
is threatened (Matthew 26:56). Who would say, “I cannot help
you. I am too preoccupied with my own life. My interests and my
feelings are far more important to me than yours. I will guard and
protect these things regardless of how you may be suffering physically,
mentally, emotionally, or most of all, spiritually. I cannot see
or feel your pain, because I am too busy taking care of my own?”
Imagine someone actually saying those things to someone’s
face. But how often we demonstrate that selfish attitude every time
we turn our back on someone who is lacking the basic needs of life!
We might say to ourselves that we would not refuse to help someone
who was hungry, or naked, or out in the cold. But how easily we
can turn and forget someone who is hurting spiritually, mentally,
and emotionally.
Humanity shares in the most common and basic needs.
Physically speaking, we all need food, clothing, and shelter. From
the emotional side of life, we all need companionship and a sense
of belonging. Every human being needs to feel loved and needed.
Our Lord had a desire to help those who were in need of the basics
of life. This was evident in his miracles of healing and providing
food. But Jesus had a passion to seek and to save those who were
spiritually lost ((Matthew 18:11). He was willing to overlook his
own needs, his own pain and anguish, to do everything that he could
to try to save even one lost soul (Matthew 26:39; Hebrews 12:2,
3).
Jesus applied a spiritual principle to a shepherd
who lost one lamb. Just one of his hundred sheep had gone astray.
How concerned was he? He demonstrated his love and unselfishly sacrificed
his own well-being to find it and bring it home (Matthew 18:11-14).
Like the song says, “...although the road was rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find my sheep.” Again when the shepherd
“heard its cry, ‘Twas sick and helpless and ready to
die.” Jesus is that shepherd and he wants those who love him,
to show the same consideration and love (Philippians 2:5-11).
We place great emphasis on evangelism, and rightly
so (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16). But what happens to those
who fall away? We have a duty, a serious responsibility, to do all
that we can to bring them back to safety.
Paul expressed this in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore
such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest
thou also be tempted.” Fellow Christians must look out for
one another. Not only when things are going well, but also when
someone has fallen into sin by giving in to temptation. No matter
how serious or grave the sin may be, brethren, “those who
are spiritual,” must step forward to remedy the situation
in “meekness” (gentleness) and love. There is no room
for an attitude of superiority, thinking that we are better than
our fallen brother or sister. Paul reminds us to “consider”
ourselves lest we too are tempted as they were. This may involve
the difficult task of looking beyond our own pain and sadness of
the situation. Do we wait until the wayward is able to get their
act together, repent, and return to the fold? This may never happen
without some help. It is the responsibility of faithful and spiritual
brethren, not the wayward, to make the push; to go after the wanderer;
to help and restore the one who has been overtaken in sin. If we
say we cannot go, for whatever reason (hurt feelings, thinking we
don’t know what to say, or we’re afraid of the response)
then we are no stronger than the one who has been overcome by sin.
We too have been overcome.
Brethren, we live by a higher standard than those
of the world. We must esteem others better than ourselves. If we
turn a cold shoulder, and shun a wayward Christian, we are no better
than those of this cruel and cold world. Even with those who have
been disfellowshipped, Paul said, “Yet count him not as an
enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-15).
This is what Paul said in Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another's
burdens…” The apostle adds “let each esteem other
better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but
every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
When someone has sinned and we are quick to condemn, is this because
we are concerned about them and their spiritual welfare? Or is it
more of a self-righteousness that prompts this action? Once again
Paul reminds us, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
In judgment, let it not be said that we did nothing
to help and restore our fallen brother or sister. Let’s look
beyond our own feelings and interests and stand against Satan, fighting
tenaciously for the soul of our loved one who has fallen by his
snare. “...of some have compassion, making a difference: And
others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire...” (Jude
1:22-23).
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