Thursday, November 4, 2010

Push 'em to the Front!

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor" (Romans 12:10)

As human beings, no one usually has to urge us to "grab the spotlight," beloved! We love the "center ring" of man's attention, the place of prominence in the public eye. As we used to say to each other in high school whenever a buddy wanted to cut in line at lunch - "After me, you're first!"

The problem for us as Christians, however, is that such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the attitude that is to typify those who are members of God's eternal family. Note in the latter half of this verse of Scripture that the Apostle Paul urged believers of his day to "give preference" to one another, and not preference through gritted teeth, but rather preference in honor! The Greek verb proegeomai (pro-ay-geh'-om-ahee) means literally "lead forward" or "go before" in the sense of taking the lead in something. Now I know what you are thinking! You are saying to yourself, "Didn't he just say that the family of God stands opposed to such an attitude?" And you are right, I did! But Paul's use of this word here, beloved, carries the meaning of leading by example.

But in what precisely are we to lead the way or lead by example? The descriptive phrase "in honor" answers that question for us. The Greek noun time (tee-may') can mean "honor" or "respect" or "reverence" or even "esteem." We are, thus, to take the lead in honoring every other follower of Jesus Christ. That is precisely what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the saints in Philippi:

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves" (2:3)

The apostle's thought here is that, instead of grabbing the preeminence ourselves, we are to push others toward the spotlight by recognizing and commending their worth to others. As someone much wiser than me once said, beloved, the humble Christian does not think poorly of himself in his relationships with others because he does not think of himself at all!

If you would serve other believers effectively, then, consider them as more important than yourself and look for ways to commend them to others. Look for the activity of the Holy Spirit in them and "push" them toward the front. Devote yourself to their spiritual growth and maturity and encourage them in their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot imagine what God can and will do with the church in which such an attitude takes over!

Ron