3/04/07

The Practicals of the Christian Life, Part 2

Romans 12:13-21

 [13] contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. [14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. [16] 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. [17] Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. [18] If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. [19] Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. [20] "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 [13]  Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

 The term “contributing” comes from the Grk. word where we get the essence of the word “fellowship.”  In the Grk. it is “koinonia.”  It emphasizes the participation of one’s life in the life of another.  It is a word that expresses tangibility.  It involves the sharing of what I have with another.  Paul exhorts us here to have the kind of attitude that was in the first Jerusalem church, as seen in Acts 2:42-46,

“And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. [44] And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; [45] and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. [46] And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

“practicing hospitality” has a unique slant to it.  The first phrase in v. 13 relates to the body of Christ and this one relates to those who are “strangers.”  The word “practicing” or as another translation puts it “given to” has the meaning of “pursuing a stranger.”  The implied meaning is that though we are a body of believers, met together through the bonds of Christ grace and love, we are not to forget those outside the family of God.  In fact, we are to pursue them.  We are to pursue strangers.  In my study, I was unable to distinguish whether the word “stranger” actually meant someone unknown to me or someone who is a stranger to the grace of God; someone who is outside the grace-bounds of Christ.  This exhortation comes to remind us that we are not a club that excludes those “not yet in.”  In Rome, the strangers might have been soldiers, or others who seemed to a threat to the safety or homogeneity of the church.  Perhaps the next phrase speaks more directly to that.

 [14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (See Matthew 5:44ff)

 The word “bless” comes from the word from which we get the English term “eulogize”, which means to “speak well of.”  This is one of those verses that you want to rip out of scripture b/c you know that you cannot do this in your own strength.  The accomplishment of it stands against the very essence of our flesh.  Isn’t it one of the most difficult things to do say good things about people who are “on” you?  And it is not just not saying anything…you know that old saying, “If you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all.”  Jesus is saying, “Do say something that is good.”  But what is it that we have to say?  Well, here is where we get help.  The very nature of the term “blessing” is a divine term.  In reality, only God has the power to bless.  So what we are to do is to call upon God to bless them through us.  See, it is not us in our power giving something that a person may not, in reality, deserve, but b/c God desires us to we call out to Him to work it in us…wisdom, grace and power…all from Him, placing it in our hearts to do from a point of obedience.  The word “persecute” comes from the same root word as the word “practice” in the prior verse.  In this context, it means someone who is always on you; someone who is always questioning your authority at work; someone who seems to have made it their goal in life to make you miserable; someone who seems to be looking for any crack in your “armor”, someone who is always being sarcastic toward you, etc.  They just seem like they are always on your case.

 [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 This command grows out of the doctrine stated in Rom 12:4-5, that the church is one…that it has one interest.   Since it is true, that we are to glorify God, therefore it is natural that there should be common sympathy in its joys and sorrows. I think there is a direct correlation to 1 Corinthians 12:25, 26,

“that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. [26] And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

However, isn’t it true, again, that the flesh wants to well up inside and wonder, “why hasn’t God blessed me like that?  Sure, when you are on the receiving end, it is so easy to rejoice, but when will it come to me?”  I have never been a great fan of conventions, but I have attended a few.  I once overheard one man comment about another pastor who was having great success in his church.  He said, “Well sure, if my church had his location and the wealth of his congregation, we could be just as successful.”   

 The design of this direction is to produce not only mutual kindness and affection, but also to divide our sorrows by the sympathies of friends.  All who are afflicted know how much it diminishes their sorrow to see others who demonstrate the Christian spirit of sympathy.  God desires that not only are our joys doubled by others sharing our joy, but to also find that our sorrows are halved by others who are willing to walk the road of suffering and grief with us.  How sad would it would be if there were none who regarded our griefs with interest or with tears; if every sufferer were left to bear his sorrows unpitied and alone; if all the ties of human sympathy were rudely cut at once, and people were left to suffer in solitude and unbefriended!  I don’t know about you, but I would rather have just one person who would truly walk in my sorrow, than a hundred who rejoice with me.

 [16] 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.

 It will be difficult to sympathize with some because we have not been where they are.  We think ourselves above or immune from the circumstances of the lowly.  Perhaps this is what the Spirit is focusing on in this exhortation.  We can miss the joy of the Christian life by only walking the way of those who are like us.  This is not a question of net worth, or degrees on the wall, or anything like that.  It is a matter of who we think we are.  In reality, none of us are really wealthy.  What is it that divides a man of high esteem and low esteem?  Isn’t too often the clothes, the model car, the neighborhood, the occupation, etc.?  When Bill Gates, the richest individual in the world, dies he will not have anything more in his casket than did Jim Mimms on Thursday.  It is an interesting thought: if Jim Mimms and Bill Gates had met each other along life’s road, I am quite certain that Bill Gates would not have given Jim the time of day.  But, I am equally certain that Jim would have spent an entire day with Bill Gates had he asked him to (and Jim would have walked away with no higher estimation of himself than before.) 

 The last phrase sets the stage for the entire verse.  Paul give an imperative command “do not be wise” to yourself.  Unfortunately, how we think about ourselves frames our approach to others.  Christ calls us to have His mind as the ruler of our minds…to be lowly, servant hearted and humble.

 [17] Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

 I know of nothing more basic than this.  No one has to teach us as little children to hit back when hit.  It is the natural response of the flesh.  As we get older, we learn more sophisticated ways of paying back…and usually it is with compounded interest, isn’t it?  And then, we get smart and “do it unto others before they have a chance to do it unto us.”  Oh, listen.  Every issue in this section of scripture that we are looking at today is absolutely impossible to fulfill without the grace and strength of the Lord working through us.

 [18] If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

 So far as "we" are concerned, we are to seek peace. But then it does not always depend on us. Others may oppose and persecute us; they may hate everything we stand for, and may slander, revile, and otherwise injure us; or they may even assault us or our property.  For "their" assaults we are not accountable, but we are accountable for our responses to them; and on no occasion are we to be the ones that initiate any kind of antagonism. It may not be possible to prevent their injuring and opposing us; but it is possible that we not begin actions toward them.  And "when they" have initiated strife, we are to seek peace, and to demonstrate the love and grace of Christ. This command doubtless extends to everything connected with strife; and means that we are not to "provoke" them to controversy, or to prolong it when it is commenced;

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. [40] "And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. [41] "And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Matthew 5:39-41

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

 If all Christians would follow this command, if they would never "provoke" to controversy, if they would injure no man by slander or by unfair dealing, if they would compel none to prosecute them in law by lack of punctuality in payment of debts or honesty in business, if they would do nothing to irritate, or to prolong a controversy when it is begun, it would certainly put aside a huge part of the strife that exists in the world.

[19] Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

 There could be some situations where the legal system, of which God has appointed for the praise of those who do well, and to punish evil-doers, might step into a situation 1 Peter 2:14. Further, our Lord Jesus did not surrender his rights (John 18:23); and Paul demanded that he himself should be treated according to the rights and privileges of a Roman citizen; Acts 16:37. The command here "not to avenge ourselves" means, that we are not to take it out of the hands of God, or the hands of the law, and to inflict it ourselves. It is well known that where there are no laws, the business of vengeance is pursued by individuals in a barbarous and unrelenting manner. In a state of savage society, vengeance is "immediately taken," if possible, or it is pursued for years, and the offended man is never satisfied until he has imbrued his hands in the blood of the offender. Such is the case among the criminal elements of our society (organized crime and illegal drug trade). But Christianity seeks the ascendancy of the laws; and in cases which do not admit or require the interference of the laws, in private assaults and quarrels, it demands that we bear injury with patience, and commit our cause unto God; see Lev 19:18.

 In translating I will take revenge it is important to indicate that God takes revenge for what others have done, but not necessarily to himself. In other words, God is not being vengeful in the sense that he retaliates for what people do to him. Rather, he exercises judgment upon those who harm others. Therefore, one may translate "I will take revenge on the evil that has been done" or "I will take revenge on those who have done evil." In some languages the closest equivalent may be "to pay back"-for example, "I will pay them back for how they have caused others to suffer." In other languages one may translate as "I will cause them to suffer in return."

 [20] "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."

 If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink. This is taken from Proverbs 25:21-22, which, without doubt, supplied the basis of those lofty precepts on that subject which form the culminating point of the Sermon on the Mount.

 For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. The sense of this clause has been the subject of much debate. In Jerome's time (4^th century), and by the Greek interpreters, it was generally understood in the unfavorable sense of aggravating our enemy's guilt. 'That will be the most effectual vengeance, as effectual as if you heaped coals of fire on his head.'  But Jerome, Augustine, and others, took the expression in the good sense, in which now it is almost universally quoted-namely, that by returning good for our enemy's evil we may expect at some time to subdue and overpower him-as burning coals consume all that is inflammable-into shame and repentance.

 Thayer’s Lexicon offers this view: “The memory of the wrong awakened in your enemy by your kindness, shall sting him with penitence. This, however, might be open to the objection that the enemy's pain might gratify the instinct of revenge. Perhaps it is better to take it, that kindness is as effectual as coals of fire. Among the Arabs and Hebrews the figure of ‘coals of fire’ is common as a symbol of divine punishment (hailstones and coals of fire, Ps 18:13). The Arabians call things which cause very acute mental pain, burning coals of the heart and fire in the liver"

 [21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 When we are overcome by evil, we, then, become the conquered party.  But overcome evil with good - and then the victory is ours; at that point, we have subdued our enemy in the very likeness and nature of which Christ commanded us to do.  Let it never be forgotten that the redeeming mercy of God in Christ is, in the souls of believers, the living spring of all holy obedience. (Rom 12:1).