let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up. Romans 15:2 NABRE
Paul is closing out his letter to the Romans by speaking about building up the body of Christ. Christ’s body is made up of many people; strong and weak, male and female, with many gifts and talents and the message of Paul based on Jesus commandment to love one another is that we should build one another up. If we are strong, we have a capacity, we have necessary gifts, we should be ready to help those who are weak, who have less capacity and who haven’t discovered where to use their gifts. Particularly, Paul wants us to work for the good of our neighbor. He says we should want to please our neighbor, we are not just wanting their good, we are seeking their pleasure. To be Christian, to be a follower of Christ, we seek to please our neighbor, others will know we are Christian by our neighbor pleasing abilities. Christ did not please Himself, He lives for others, He lives to please others, His entire life was lived at the service of others. Jesus didn’t just want our salvation, Jesus wanted us to be pleased, to be built up, to be happy, joyful and saved. If we are to follow Jesus we are asked to do the same as Jesus. We must please others, not just serve them, or help them, but put them first, make their life pleasurable. This is the mission of a Christian.
Challenge yourself and others to be neighbor pleasers. Find ways to make your neighbor happy every day, to bring joy to their life, even if it cost you something. We are most like Christ when we are most pleasing to our neighbor. Who is our neighbor? The real question is, who isn’t our neighbor?
Do you please your neighbor? Who was the last person you built up?
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