We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
Romans 15:1-2
We considered the verse above a couple of weeks ago only from the point of view from the strong believer. I’ve had to frequently tell my older boys over the years to watch out for the younger. They would start playing too roughly, and the youngest would get hurt. It’s good for the stronger to be careful for the weak’s sake, but does the weak believer have a responsibility as well? Absolutely! We’d like to consider today a couple of points regarding the weak believer.
1) The weak brother may not recognize he is weak. He may be deceiving himself, viewing himself as the strong one because he’s excusing sin and calling it Christian liberty! Any time we encounter someone who is convicted about some activity that we allow, our first response should be to examine ourselves. We must recognize that we all have blind spots and room to grow. The person under conviction may be the stronger and more mature brother because he recognizes sin for what it is. We must always examine our own hearts, judging not that we be not judged. (Mt 7:1) Every believer is commanded to constantly check out his own heart because sin can be very deceptive. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…” (2 Cor 13.5) We may be feeding some inordinate affection and disguising it as freedom in Christ! We are to live “as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.” (1 Pet 2:16)
2) The weak brother should be striving to not remain weak! God doesn’t intend for us to stay that way. Maturity is the goal! The Hebrews were scolded for not growing up. They were hindered in their service to others because they were not spiritually mature. Just listen: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” (Heb 5:12-13) We don’t want our kids to stay babies forever. Neither does the Lord! So, how do we mature? The process is the same in the spiritual as it is in the physical. If a child eats and exercises, he’s going to physically mature. We need to do the same spiritually! What’s our spiritual food? The word of God! “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby… ” (1 Pet 2:2) But, if we would be healthy, we must do more than just eat. We must exercise or food will just turn to fat! Spiritual exercise means we put into practice what we have learned. “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb 5:14)
The good news is that we’re not alone in this effort to mature. God will see to it that all his children become strong. We are being conformed to the image of His son (Rom 8:29), and God will make sure each of His children reach that point. What’s that process like? Well, what does it take to get strong physically? Our muscles are strengthened through resistance. God will see to it that just the right amount of resistance is applied to our lives to bring us to full maturity. It may not feel good right now, but I promise you, you’re going to like the results! “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Pet 5:10 AMP)
Jamie