Bible Reading: 1 Cor. 6:7
Do not insist on your own way
The elders understood that a certain meeting should study the Gospel of John. However, one of the brothers responsible for that group felt that John would be too long and wanted to study 1 Thessalonians. He thought it would help those who were not used to reading the Bible. Since he insisted, the elders eventually agreed, although his burden for 1 Thessalonians was not appropriate.
In fact, this brother did not have a legitimate burden. He simply thought the saints would be apprehensive about a book with twenty-one chapters and allowed his opinion to override the feelings of the others. Unless he had actually been commissioned to study 1 Thessalonians, he should not have proposed it at the meeting.
None of us should do things that we have not been entrusted with, nor should we abandon things that we have truly been entrusted with; but we need to serve according to our burden. Doing the opposite violates a spiritual principle. This responsible brother had not yet learned the lesson in spiritual matters and acted in an inexperienced manner in his behavior.
If our fellowship is related to a spiritual burden, there should be no problem in proposing change, and we should not criticize the burden. However, if all we want is to change the way others do things, we should not go ahead with it.
We need to respect the way the brothers
we serve with do things
The elders will not force a group to study a certain book or say specific things, but we should not randomly change what they have commissioned us to do. Strictly speaking, it is fine to study either John or 1 Thessalonians, for it does not really matter which book is studied. It is possible to minister to the brothers with 1 Thessalonians or the Gospel of John. In our service, we should always avoid changing the way others do things.
We need to understand that when we change the way others do things, they may not accept it because they understand it is not appropriate to change; and if they do accept, it will not be in a pleasant way. Because of this kind of problem, our service in the administration of the church and in the ministry of the word is not strong.
Even in the world, when people work together, it is not easy to change the way others do things. If we truly have some skill, it will manifest even when we work according to others' ways. If we have spiritual content, we can minister to the saints through 1 Thessalonians or the Gospel of John. It does not matter which book it is, we should be able to minister its spiritual content. What we should fear is not having spiritual content to minister; if we have it, we are capable of ministering and developing any book of the Bible.
Therefore, changing the way others do things indicates that we have not yet learned many spiritual lessons. It also indicates that we are still inexperienced in how we conduct ourselves. Some brothers lead the saints to serve fervently, hoping that they will spend more time learning to maintain fellowship with the Lord and to know the Spirit who dwells in them. We should not try to change their practice. Instead, we should praise them, saying that it is good to love the Lord and to be fervent.
However, our praise should not be false; rather, it should be a positive supplement to their work. We always need to maintain an attitude of respect, cooperation, and coordination with others. We should serve according to our portion and honor the portion of others, because both have been entrusted by the Lord. Everyone should have the humility not to consider their portion higher than that of another.
We should care for the feelings of others. Unless they speak heresies and create problems for the work and the church, we should always respect them, be gentle and helpful with them, and be open to receive their help. May the Lord grant us grace to realize that this is a matter of life and involves being broken and humble.
Those who can achieve a goal without forcing others to do everything their way are truly humble. Since we love the Lord, we desire to live for Him and to build up the church. These goals are right, but there are many ways to achieve them. For example, preaching the gospel with a brother is a good goal that can be accomplished according to his way or ours.
We are blessed when we do not force others to do things our way. If we have spiritual content, we can minister in his way, and if he has spiritual content, he can minister in ours. Both ways are acceptable; there is no need to cling to one of them.
Enjoy more: Hymn 224
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