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July 13, 2007
Enjoy One Another
One of the things I love most to see in the Church is people enjoying each other. Whether it’s during a game of softball by competing groups in the church, or at a gathering of friends around the dinner table, or in the coffee hour after the morning worship service, or at a church picnic, seeing people genuinely enjoy one another is a blessing that brings gladness and encouragement to our hearts. As the writer of Proverbs declared in 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” The joy that will come from knowing and appreciating each other in the Body of Christ protects us from the despair of loneliness and the destructiveness of disunity. One day a friend and I were talking about our respective churches. I asked, “what is your church like? Do people get along and enjoy one another?” The answer was shocking. He explained that in his church deacons don’t get along with trustees; trustees don’t get along with elders, Sunday School teachers don’t get along with each other or their students, the choir doesn’t get along with the organist and the pastor doesn’t get along with anyone!” One can hardly imagine a situation worse than that. It brings to mind the little rhyme, “To live above with the saints we love, oh that will be glory. But to live below with the saints we know, well, that’s another story.” While there is no specific Bible verse that explicitly tells us to enjoy one another, there are plenty of passages that implicitly encourage us to do that.
It is possible to live below with the saints we know in a way that demonstrates appreciation and enjoyment of each other. The Bible gives us several pointers as to how to enjoy one another in the Body. First, BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED yourself. Spiritual life begins with our faith in Jesus Christ at which time the Holy Spirit makes us spiritually alive to the Word and will of God and gives us the inner craving for Christian fellowship with others in the local body. It is important to note that our vertical relationship with God through Christ is a prerequisite to our horizontal relationship with other Christians. I John 1:7 reminds us, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another . . .” Second, BE THANKFUL FOR ONE ANOTHER. To be devoid of jealousy or envy over another’s abilities, talents and gifts, and to genuinely appreciate them in their God-given uniqueness, is to bask in the blessing of enjoying one another. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you . . . I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:4,5). After a lengthy discussion about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul concludes, “there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” Inside of that concern is an appreciation by each of us for others in the way God has gifted us to serve. Third, BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER. Both Paul and Peter stressed this basic component of our Christian interaction with one other. Paul expressed, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Peter reasoned, “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness.” Acts of kindness elevate our relationship with other people and contribute to authentic enjoyment of others. Fourth, BE AFFECTIONATE TO ONE ANOTHER. Peter admonishes, “have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22). The kind of love Peter stresses here surpasses mere enjoyment of others to excel in doing everything possible to contribute toward their spiritual and physical welfare.
If you’re not already doing so, why not experience the blessing of enjoying others in our wonderful Zion family through small groups, corporate worship, church activities or through extending hospitality in your own home?
Pastor Ralph Partelow
Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at July 13, 2007 10:58 AM