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Romans 13-14: Pursue What Makes for Peace and Mutual Upbuilding

Aug 19, 2009
Christian Living, Comfort, Encouragement, Love, Romans

Today’s reading is Romans 13:1-14:23.

I am wading into the muddy waters of Romans 14. I certainly don’t believe I have all the answers to all the questions that come out of this chapter and I don’t intend to try to answer them on this blog. However, Romans 14:19 caught my attention today.

“So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”

If we could follow this simple rule, so many things would be better and so much in congregations would run smoother. The problem is I don’t naturally want to pursue what makes for peace or mutual edification. I want to pursue what proves I’m right. I want to pursue what makes me look the best, the smartest, the strongest.  I assume if you are doing anything differently than I am that you are accusing me of something or, at the very least, claiming you are better than me. I can’t allow that. I have to prove I’m better than you.

Do I keep a day and you don’t? I have to prove why it is the right thing to do or at least the best judgment. Sure, not everyone has to do it. But if you don’t, you’re a loser. That attitude won’t produce much peace or edification, yet that is all too often the default attitude in my life.

I need to let this verse drill its way into my heart. I need this to be the default setting–peace and mutual upbuilding.

***Question: Why is it so hard to let this be the default setting? or How do you accomplish this as your default setting?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

3 Comments
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  • Eric Huggins

    One thing that stuck out to me in chapter 14 was vs. 4: "who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." The reason we should make peace and mutual upbuilding and not argue about opinions (vs. 1) is because we are not the judge. God is our master and the master of our fellow servants. Whether they are accepted or not is completely dependent on Him, not on us as fellow servants. God is able to uphold the one who is unjustly despised by a fellow servant or who has unrighteous judgment passed on him. Because of this we should really care more about whether God is pleased with what we do than if humans are. Our duty is not to pass judgment on matters that the Lord has not given us instructions about (vs. 1), but to love one another (John 13:34-35).

  • Edwin Crozier

    Eric, great point. Something hit me as I was reading your comment. I don't know how many times a day I have to stop one of my children from some action or statement by saying, "Tessa, you are not the mom." "Ethan, you are not Ryan's dad." "Ryan, you aren't the father here."

    I wonder how many times God is looking at me and saying, "Edwin, you need to cut that out. You aren't their God."

  • Zenas The Lawyer

    It is hard to let this be the default setting because we are, all too often, insecure with ourselves. We accomplish the right "setting" by going deeper into the realization that we are accepted and secure in Christ. It all goes back to the fundamentals of the gospel (in my mind at least).



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