Stir

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2.3-4) What can I do to lift you up? How can I enhance your Christian walk? Is there anything I can speak to grow your faith in our God and Father and our Christ? Many of us may have lists for the Elders, preachers, or leaders that we freely share, but that is not what this verse is admonishing. What can I, as an individual member of the Lord’s Church, do to strengthen someone else?

First, we honor each other and praise each other. Build your brethren up by thinking the best of them. Has someone been talking about them? Shut it down. We are members of the kingdom, not of this world. When you do not understand someone’s actions it is our duty to think the best of their efforts. Are those efforts troubling to you? Go talk to your brother or sister. Tell them you do not understand why they act so and ask them to help you understand.

Can you help? There are brethren who are leading, teaching, living, etc… that need encouragement. Pray for your Elders and help build them up. Pray for your brethren and the work they do. We may not let one hand know what the other is doing and you may be surprised at the battles being fought by a brother/sister. The last thing we need, in our spiritual journey, is to have to fight battles amongst ourselves.

Remember, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not please ourselves” (Romans 15.1). All that strength you have been praying for may be being tested. Honor the brethren and build each other up. “I don’t like” is directly condemned in Philippians 2.4. “…consider how to stir one another up to love and good works” (Hebrews 10.24). Your Christianity is not about you, it’s about your brother.

Our command is to “restore…in a spirit of gentleness” and to “Bear one another’s burdens…” because that is how we “fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6.1-2).