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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
"...One Another"
Human beings relate to each other in various ways. There are business relationships, family and friend relationships. Some are positive; some are negative. That’s the way we humans are, and it is in those very relationships that our lives are shaped, sharpened and enhanced. Biblically, our “one another” dealings are mentioned over and over, with certain ground rules set by God. Over fifty times we find the term “one another” urging honesty, openness, love and fairness.
“Ye shall not oppress one another”
In the Mosaic covenant, God’s people were warned not to violate principles of fairness and honesty in their business dealings. In Leviticus 25:14-17, the year of Jubilee is discussed, and land that had been “sold” could be redeemed by the original owner. But in these arrangements, they were to be honest with “one another,” not taking unfair advantage.
Jesus told men with authority that they should “do violence to no man,” Luke 3:14. In 1 Corinthians 6:8 Paul accused some Christians of having “defrauded your brethren,” describing such action as a form of “unrighteous” behavior. Let us not do harm to others.
“By love serve one another”
Part of Jesus’ instruction to His apostles included the importance of service. In John 13 He washed their feet, revealing His own willingness to serve, and He gave them a clear mandate of humble attitudes toward others. In Galatians 5:13, Paul wrote of a Christian’s liberty, then gave instruction that they should use that liberty only in ways that revealed their love and willingness to “serve one another.”
It was Jesus who declared that Christians must serve:
“By the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all,” Mark 9:34-35.
Humility will always be a garment of beauty, and such must clothe all who follow Jesus’ example.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens”
There are burdens some must bear that are too heavy to be borne alone. It is just those burdens to which Paul directs us in Galatians 6:2, and we should be willing to help others to carry and deal with those burdens. In so doing we are said to “fulfill the law of Christ.” Yes, some burdens must be borne alone, but others give opportunity for our brothers and sisters to give assistance. Jesus’ words, “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise,” Luke 6:31, give us the mandate to “take up with the hands; to bear what is burdensome” to our brethren. This blessed privilege is for those who love God.
“Forgive one another”
It is a heavy burden to carry our sins. When we sin against another we must be willing to admit and abandon the sin. Just as we desire to be forgiven, we must be willing to forgive others, Matthew 7:12. Ephesians 4:32 describes an attitude that is willing to forgive others when we have been hurt. Jesus gave us a formula for our action and attitude in such occasions:
“If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him,” Luke 17:3.
God has promised to forgive if we repent, and we must be willing to do so as well. One who will not repent should not be treated with contempt, but Jesus said repentance is a prerequisite for forgiveness—His or ours. We must be willing to repent and forgive.
“Comfort one another”
As Paul wrote these words in 1 Thessalonians 4:18, he saw the need for consolation in times of trouble. To comfort one in such times is admirable and desirable. However, the word “comfort” also carries with it the necessity of “warning, strengthen, admonish; exhort.” Some Christians at that time needed to “stiffen their backbone,” to be stronger, more courageous in their lives. Therefore the Holy Spirit instructed Christians to console when that was needed, and to warn and exhort when that was needed. We should all be grateful when such “comfort” is provided for us.
Remember, our relationships will be stronger and more effective when we “love one another with a pure heart fervently,” 1 Peter 1:22.
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“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another,”
“Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching,”
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,”
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Was Jesus a Failure?
When Jesus approached Jerusalem for the last time before His crucifixion, Luke records Jesus' words, "…we go to Jerusalem, and all things written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be fulfilled," Luke 18:31. A few weeks later, just before ascending to reign on God's throne, He described His mission as "fulfilled," Luke 24:44. How, then, can Jesus be a failure? In the eyes of God, of course, He was not, John 5:30.
But Jesus was a failure. To the Pharisees, who sought one who would do their will, Jesus failed to meet their expectations. Instead of delivering them from the oppression of Rome, He sought to free them from the bondage of sin. Instead of attacking the "publicans and sinners," Jesus proclaimed that the Pharisees were hypocrites and the Sadducees were ignorant, Luke 12, Matthew 22.
As a preacher, Jesus was a failure. He was far too bold and aggressive to please most. He dwelt too much on negative topics like adultery, selfishness and disobedience to be a successful preacher. He even offended some people, Matthew 15:12. And aside from all that, one of His chosen apostles betrayed Him, another denied Him, and many other disciples "went back and walked no more with Him," John 6:66.
He was a failure socially. Although growing up in a respected trade as a carpenter, still He owned no home, no property, and had no formal education. He never married. Many of His friends were the outcasts of society, and even His own brothers rejected Him. While He was quite popular for a while, He angered and befriended the wrong people, and ultimately was "despised and rejected."
He failed to impress the Greeks; He failed to convert every person He contacted; He even failed to win His own trial before either the Sanhedrin, Herod or Pilate. But God still made Him "both Lord and Christ," Acts 2:36.
Perhaps we work too hard at "being successful," and not enough at being faithful. To be a "failure" as Jesus was, would make us successful in God's sight.
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