Sharing Gifts

What is it that makes us strong?

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." - Romans 15:1-3

Are we made strong for our own benefit, or for the benefit of others who are weak?

In today's reading, Paul tells the people of the Church of Rome that it is for others that they have strength.  If we believe that, it changes our whole focus, doesn't it?

The things that come to us that cause us to boast may not be for our benefit alone.  They may be gifts to share with others. 

Of course we don't always see the weak as our responsibility.  We see them as weak, while we are strong, and we say they should be strong as well.

When we do that, we miss an opportunity to be a loving, caring neighbor.  We become like those who walked past the man who was beaten and robbed, rather than like the Good Samaritan who stopped.

I believe God chooses to work through us to help those in need.  He may help us get something so we can help Him answer someone's prayer.

When we look at this world that way, we see that it is up to each of us to choose to be in synch with God.  If we are forced to help others, there is no reward in that.  It becomes our job, our contract, our tax.

But if we are free not to help others, and we choose to do so, we are following Jesus in the way of truth.

God could level the playing field and give to everyone equally, but He chose to do something radically different.  He chose to give us the will to love and help one another. 

Can we take up that challenge and stop looking for others to do what we can do ourselves?

More to come...