(There are two articles on this page)
One Another
by Chris Simmons
In the history of this congregation, when consideration was given to the question of whether we had men who were qualified to serve as elders, questions were raised that perhaps exposed something about ourselves. Many had expressed the sentiment that they did not know some of the men and their wives well enough to know if they were or were not qualified to be elders. This attitude indicates that we perhaps need to strive more diligently to know one another and spend more time with one another than we already do. We may have a love for one another but we can always improve and grow. To the Thessalonians Paul wrote; “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more” (I Thessalonians 4:9-10).
We can and should continue to strive harder to know, love and appreciate each other more than we currently do and seek to integrate our busy lives together more. Paul prayed for the brethren in Colossae that “their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love” (Colossians 2:2). To knit two pieces of yarn together is to weave them in such a way so as to make them one piece. To have our hearts “knit together in love” is to have our hearts woven together so as to become one in Christ. To this end, we need to remind ourselves of all that the scriptures have to say about how we are to think and act towards “one another.” For the remainder of this article, consider the following passages that speak of “one another” principles.
Be devoted to one another. There needs to be a commitment and devotion expressed in action towards each other. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:10).
Be of the same mind toward one another. We can not afford to have brethren who think themselves to be of superior value or greater importance than any other brethren. “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Romans 12:16).
Build up and edify one another. We all need to seek for opportunities to help each other to be strengthened and grow spiritually, which takes great time and effort. “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Romans 14:19).
Serve one another. We are responsible for recognizing the needs of one another and doing what we can to meet those needs and serve others. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
Be patient and show forbearance to one another. God certainly expects growth and does give us time to grow (Hebrews 5:12) and we likewise need to show patience and forbearance towards each other without ignoring sin and error. “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2).
Encourage one another. That is, we need to help instill courage in each other to continue to fight the good fight of faith, especially when we see those who are “down” or struggling spiritually. “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). “Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (I Thessalonians 5:11).
Teach and admonish one another. Our knowledge needs to continue to grow and we need to help each other by teaching each other. When our walk as a child of God is not what it should be, we need words of admonishment from each other. “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another” (Romans 15:14).
Be hospitable to one another. We are to share our lives, our homes and our company together in a spirit of love. “Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (I Peter 4:9).
Confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. When we fall short, we need to make things right before our brethren and seek their prayers for the ability to overcome. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16).
Above all else, we are to love one another. We share a responsibility to seek what is in the best interest of others through our agape love for one another. “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (I John 3:11). “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us” (I John 4:11-12).
There is much for us to do for one another and to whatever extent we already are doing these things, let us commit to “excel still more.”
Good Deeds
by Chris Simmons
Few in this world would stand opposed to the idea of the importance of engaging in good deeds. The problem lies in that few will agree on what those good deeds are and how we are to go about doing them. As children of God, we must make sure that we turn to the words of God in order to direct us in the pursuit of good deeds. In Paul’s letter to Titus, he had much to say about God’s will for us and our good deeds. Consider the following four points that Paul makes in his letter to Titus about good deeds.
Good deeds need to be taught and learned. In Titus 3:14 Paul writes, “And let our people also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” We must not assume that people inherently know what good deeds God desires for us to engage in, but rather, we must be taught. To engage in what the human mind has determined to be good deeds would certainly be “unfruitful” in the eyes of God. Where are we to learn about good deeds? Paul told Timothy that “scripture” would equip us for these good deeds when he said, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). This not only tells us of the source of our instruction for good deeds but defines the scope of good deeds to be “teaching … reproof … correction … (and) training in righteousness…”. Many religious people today try to limit the scope of good deeds to activities of benevolence, recreation or socialization. Certainly the scriptures teach us of the need of a limited degree of benevolence to fellow brethren but it primarily focuses on the good deeds that we can do which are spiritual in nature. Let us not assume that babes in Christ and our children automatically understand that we must be taught by the scriptures regarding good deeds that we are to do.
Good deeds require that we care. In Titus 3:8 we read, “This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds.” To be careful is to simply be full of care. Unless we care about the spiritual needs (and to a lesser degree, physical needs) of others, we will stop short of “engaging” in good deeds. Until we have a deep-rooted care for the lost souls of others, we will do little to try and change their spiritual condition. When Paul exhorts us in Galatians 6:1 to “restore such a one” who has been caught in a trespass, we can only comply when we care about the soul of the one caught in sin. Care is demonstrated when Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and “…explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Indifference is the opposite of being careful and will only ensure that the good deeds God desires for us to do never get done.
Good deeds require that we be ready. In Titus 3:1 Paul records, “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed.” It is an easy temptation to fail to engage in good deeds because the opportunities do not come and knock on our front door begging for our help. We need to seek for the opportunities and be ready for the doors of opportunity that God presents to us. In Revelation 3:8 we read where Christ told the brethren in Philadelphia of an “open door” that had been set before them and they were then responsible to be ready to make the most of the opportunity given to them. Often times, all that is needed for us to be ready is to lift up our eyes and look at all the opportunities present before us. Christ said in John 4:35, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” The encouragement to us all is found in Luke 12:35, “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.” For as we do, we will find ample opportunities to engage in good deeds.
We are to be zealous for good deeds. We read in Titus 2:14, “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” We must learn to couple our knowledge of good deeds with an enthusiasm for them. We can not be lukewarm about good deeds as the Laodiceans were (Revelation 3:16) but rather, we must be fervent in our pursuit of good deeds. Paul commented on the Corinthians’ zeal which was combined with their readiness in II Corinthians 9:1-2, “For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.” Certainly zeal apart from knowledge is not acceptable before God but neither is knowledge without zeal.
Good deeds are to be a manner of life for every Christian as “…God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). As we learn and grow in our care, readiness and zeal for good works, we will then become the “example of good deeds” (Titus 2:7) that God desires from all of us.