The "Each Other" Teachings of Jesus - Part 4 - Have Each Other's Backs

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The Bible says a lot about trusting in the Lord.  That phrase alone appears 19 times in Scripture.  We are also told to NOT trust in ourselves, material things, unbelievers, or anything we manage to accumulate in the way of works.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.             Psalms 37:3^(NLT)

He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.  

Psalms 40:3^(NLT)

But as for me, how good it is to be near God!    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.  Psalms 73:28^(NLT)

Why, then should we trust one another?  The Bible makes a clear distinction between trusting in others for our salvation, and trusting others with our love and friendship.  This we are supposed to do!

Let's notice from several texts the reasons we should be trusting one another:

Reason #1 -- The Jesus Model

And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.  Matthew 24:10^(NLT)

Jesus was betrayed more unjustly than anyone else ever has or could be.  Yet, Jesus entrusted His friendship, His love, and ministry to Judas.  Some say Jesus didn't know Judas would be the one to betray him.  He knew!

Jesus entrusted the Gospel to Paul (1 Tim 1.11).  Paul committed these things to other good and faithful (but human) men (2 Tim 2.2).  On top of all that, the Lord's ministry of reconciliation has been entrusted to us all (2 Cor 5.19).  God is prone to trusting His children – we ought to trust each other.

Reason #2 -- We Are Brothers

And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  And having chosen them, he called them to come to him.  And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.  And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.  What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?  If God is for us, who can ever be against us?    Romans 8:27-31^(NLT)

Indeed, who should be against any of the Lord's children?  We are all fond of Romans 8:28, a great assurance that the Lord is working out all kinds of good, even in the worst circumstances.  However, we need to go on and note how Jesus was the firstborn (favored) among many brothers and sisters! 

The word is adelphos which means from the same womb.  Beloved, there isn't (in God's economy) a "them and us" mentality.  We are related, and ought to behave as if we were one body.  What right hand ever cut off its' left brother?

Brothers sometimes have a special way of relating to each other.  A man told of his two sons.  The older one had a date for the high school dance.  "Since he would be working past the florist's closing time, he wrote explicit instructions for his younger brother: 'Take this money and go to the florist at 5:15.  Ask for the corsage in my name.  It should have two red roses with a white rose in the center.  Bring it and the change home and put the flowers in the refrigerator.  Screw up and you die.  Have a nice day.'"[2] 

We should trust one another because Jesus does, and because we are brothers in Jesus, and...

Reason #3 -- Satan Is the Real Enemy

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God,

    and the authority of his Christ.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters
    has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
    before our God day and night.    Revelation 12:10^(NLT)

Accusing and confusing the brethren has been Satan's main task since the Garden of Eden.  There have been more problems caused by Satan in the sanctuary because he spends more time here than in the brothels and Mafia meetings.  After all, he's got them – his job is to get us!

Too many Christians exercise distrust, doubt, impugning each other, treating each other as suspect.  We are skeptical of each other when we should be conducting warfare against the devil.  We are too defensive. 

In 1952 the Dallas Texans conducted their NFL football camp in rural Kerrville, Texas.  They were a ragtag team that only lasted one year, going 1-11.  During training camp, the first time a ball bounced off the field into the tall grass, none of the players wanted to go get it. 

The equipment manager, Willie Garcia – who had a wooden leg – hobbled off to retrieve the ball.  He called back to the macho football types, What the heck.  I've got a 50-50 chance the snake will go for the wrong leg.^[3]

Well, perhaps the body of Christ is failing to see that if we just joined hands and stomped through the tall grass of this age, that old slew foot serpent would leave us alone. 

Instead of treating each other like Saddam Hussein incarnate, we need to recognize Satan as the real enemy.

Reason #4 – Since we are all brothers,

and Satan is the real enemy,
we can trust God to know
and take care of the difference!

He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
    nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,

    who always judges fairly.  1 Peter 2:23^(NLT)

One of the great realities about being a Christian is the fact that you do not have to know and figure out everything.  God has told us in a variety of ways to trust one another.  How He works out all the details of betrayed trust, opportunities missed, evil to be repaid -- that is all His problem. Ours is to be obedient.  Ours is to trust!

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend.  But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own.  At last I snatched them back and cried,

How can you be so slow?

My child, He said, What could I do?

You never did let go!^[4]

Beloved, remember that Jesus trusts you and expects you to trust your brethren, because Satan is the real enemy, and God can still separate the two...and He will!

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

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[1] Carl Heinrich Bloch [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

[2]David L. Wright in Reader's Digest, 1988

[3]The Houston Chronicle, (12/24/1992), 8c

[4]Grace Current, (June 1994)

The "Each Other" Teachings of Jesus - Part 3 - Be Fair to Each Other

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It seems to be more the rule than exception these days, that even Christians have trouble getting along with their neighbors.  A little girl wrote a note to her pastor, Dear Preacher, I heard you say we should love our enemies.  I am only six and do not have any yet.  I hope to have some when I am seven.  Your friend, Love, Amy.

Who can argue that good neighbor is often today a contradiction in terms?  We have a fortress mentality in our society that separates people.  Barricaded in our air-conditioned forts, we get our information via the tube and newspapers.  We shop for stuff on our IPads. 

I call it Isolation-itis, a form of modern day social leprosy.

The Bible says that we must love our neighbor (Lev 19:18).  The two questions that immediately come into focus are:

       1.     What is it like to love a neighbor (or be fair), and,

       2.     How do I go about doing just that? 

Two texts address these questions,

Leviticus 25:14b gives the principle,

…you must not take advantage of each other.                           Leviticus 25:14^(NLT)

In the ancient Hebrew culture God had given the Levitical law for the purpose of making certain there was no question where He stood regarding the treatment of the poor.  There was a law of Jubilee.  Every 50th year, lands sold out of families, especially because of debt, were to be returned to the original owner.  One writer sums up this practice: 

The main purpose of these laws is to prevent the utter ruin of debtors....about once in any man's lifetime the slate was wiped clean.  Everyone had the chance to make a fresh start."^[2]

The prophet Amos said much about oppression of neighbors,

This is what the Lord says:  “The people of Israel have sinned again and  again, and I will not let them go unpunished!  They sell honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals.   Amos 2:6^(NLT)   

Isaiah also despised the high handed treatment of the poor:

What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field, until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land.  Isaiah 5:8^(NLT)

Good neighbors are fair in their dealings with everyone, not just the poor.

Our second text, Romans 12, tells us how to act fairly with our neighbors: 

#1. Humble Enough To Recognize Others' Worth

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning:  Don’t think you are better than you really are.  Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.  Romans 12:3^(NLT)

Paul was specifically talking to believers when he encouraged humility at the point of respect to the value of other human beings.  We are a body, and the eye is no more useful than the foot.  But this thinking also extends to those outside the church; God also created them.

We can either choose to stay humble, or we can fail to live into God’s plan for our lives. 

Boasting mouths often vacuum-up all sorts of neighbor problems.

#2. Saved Enough To Be Useful

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.  So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.  If it is giving, give generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.   Romans 12:6-8^(NLT)

Paul's litany of the gifts (giving, prophesying, etc.) should not obscure the exhortation to USE those gifts.  And they are to be used for God's glory! 

There is an apocryphal story of Abraham that tells of a traveling stranger.  Abraham saw the old man coming along the way, very weary, and his feet bleeding.  With true Eastern hospitality he invited the old man to share his meal and to stay with him for the night. 

When Abraham noticed the old man didn’t ask a blessing on his meal, he inquired why, and the man said, I am a fire worshipper and acknowledge no other god.  At this Abraham grew angry and sent him out into the night. 

Soon after, God called to Abraham and asked Where is the old man I sent to you?  Abraham told God he'd sent the infidel away.  The Lord answered in reply, I have cared for him for over a hundred years, even though he has dishonored me.  Could you not endure him one night and so prove to him God's love?  

Servanthood is not popular these days.  However, Jesus never claimed that following Him would make us popular on this earth.  He DID say that our reward in HEAVEN would be great!

#3.  Loving Enough To Be Involved

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.   Romans 12:9^(NLT)

Love must be sincere.  There is nothing less sincere than a faith that says, I love you, and want the best for you, and then ignores the other person’s needs; that’s more a description of hypocrisy. 

The most captivating aspect of the parable of the Good Samaritan is that he acted upon the compassion he felt!  He was hands-on and vulnerable. 

When you get involved with helping others, there will be an element of risk involved.  That’s because involvement is uncomfortable. 

Mostly we prefer isolation.  If you think Christians are immune to this, you have not taken a long look at why we have a trend towards mega churches today.  When you gather with several thousand others, you can be very anonymous.  You don't have to be involved.  I'm not saying large churches are wrong.  But some people use the large crowd as a place to hide.

#4.  Joyful Enough To Share

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.  Always be eager to practice hospitality.   Romans 12:13^(NLT)

Mature, patient believers realize who provides everything.  

Thanksgiving is not just another Thursday off from the job.  It is a lifestyle for believers. 

When we understand the ultimate sharing that God did for us in Christ, it is not too difficult to then become sharers of both spiritual and temporal gifts with a world that needs both desperately.       

#5.  Christ like Enough To Build Harmony

Near the end[3] of his letter, Paul restates our task:  We are to build-up our neighbor. 

There are many commands about treatment of neighbors that will create harmony.  And indeed, we would all love to live in harmony.  The background for all he says is found in Leviticus (19:17)...

Do not hate your brother in your heart..."

Other scripture reinforces the thought:

The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;
    a wise person wins friends.     Proverbs 11:30^(NLT) 

There is no better way to create harmony than to make a brother out of a neighbor.

Question:How do I Cultivate these Qualities?

It is important to note that you cannot hope to cover all of these qualities.  In strictly human reasoning, there are too many possibilities for error. 

Spiritually speaking, you are also not Jesus! 

So, don't go on overload if you fail at any point.  It isn't failure that offends Christ; what offends the Lord is when we fail to try.  Obedient submission to Christ is the beginning of becoming a great neighbor. 

So the question is a matter of the condition of your heart: 

Do you WANT to be a good neighbor, humble, useful, involved, joyful and Christ like? 

Do you WISH to live in harmony? 

The primary consideration is to RESOLVE to have your heart right with Jesus...the rest will come.

When Cortez landed at Vera Cruz in 1519 to begin his conquest of Mexico with a small force of 700 men, he purposefully set fire to his fleet of 11 ships.  His men on the shore watched their only means of retreat become a pile of ashes, sinking into the Gulf of Mexico. 

With the bridge closed off to the Old World, they confidently pressed on in the New World.

Resolve to give your heart and life to Jesus that way now.  

The old world of sin and strife will sink like one of Cortez' burning ships.  Ahead will appear the New World of new life in Jesus, with all of its challenges and conquests.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

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[1] Carl Heinrich Bloch [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

[2]Gordon J. Wenham, Leviticus, (Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Co., 1979), 317

[3] Romans 15:2