Romans 15 Commentary
Strength is for service, not for status. If you are strong, the following command applies: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”
This command applies to individuals with excellent management skills amongst us in the body of Christ. They need to bear with others, including their own leaders who may lack even management basics. The great singers with their amazing voices may not always be part of the choir. They too need to bear with the failings of the weak.
This command also applies to our leaders in the church. With your training and longevity in the vineyard, you know the corners many in your flock don’t know. Don’t use your level of excellence against the weak.
One may describe a brother as weak based on his poor attendance. He is a Sunday-only man. This brother may have more points in Heaven than all regulars. He comes to church at such a high cost that would make many regulars stay home permanently! This brother isn’t weak and don’t waste your patience on them. The scripture is talking about really weak brothers and sisters!
The scripture encourages us to have the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Keep loving even the sister who stubbed you in the back or will stub you in the back. Appoint them to a leadership position (as Treasurer) even when you know they keep a portion to themselves and are in line to betray you. What manner of love…!
The Law of the Spirit operates at such a high level that you can only reach it by the power of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Jesus. Details are important: it should always read, “The Spirit of Jesus” to emphasize one very important thought. This hugely impossible tax burden imposed by the Father is ‘secretly’ paid on your behalf by Jesus Christ – through His Spirit.
So it becomes possible to love even when love is clearly impossible. It becomes possible to bear with ‘infinitely’ inferior ideas and thoughts from the weak brethren! The Spirit of Jesus is doing it through you – the Spirit of Jesus ruling over the nations!
The reference to the “Root of Jesse” rings the bell for a thought on the grand inauguration of the Son’s government. But more often than not, the rule of the Son refers to the rule of the Spirit of Jesus within the saved soul. He pulls the strings. What he says goes! This ‘rule’ is often referenced, rather than the grand, obvious, and glorious rule of the Son over His entire creation at the end of time.
Paul is eager to extend this ‘rule’ to Spain but he must pass through Rome. He asks the church there to supply the logistics for this trip. However, he must first go to Jerusalem to deliver the supplies donated to the brethren in Jerusalem. The church helped each other materially! The gospel was sponsored by the churches. Now we know how Paul paid for his long missionary trips!
The church met the real needs of the saints. The church still collects money but the real needs are hardly met – assuming a new Jumbo jet for the senior pastor isn’t a real need!
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