Wishing you all a happy New Year! We are now into the early days of 2024.
I will take this opportunity to share something from the word of God at the start of the year, and hopefully this will set the tone for the year.
A new year. Again, we are confronted with this yearly question: What does the New Year mean to me? More mature? Perhaps wiser? Or a new opportunity for a fresh start when we did not do something well last year? Maybe we have resolved to do better this year? I like what Paul says, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). We too must forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. Yesterday is gone, and there is nothing one can do anything about it. However, we have today and God willing, tomorrow.
The thing I want to focus on in this article is caring for one another in the family of God. In our physical family, we know what it means to care for one another. What a blessing for the family if every member has the same care for one another. It is the same for the church.
We need to note that we are the body of Christ. Paul said, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). He also said, “There should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:25). The CSB translates the last part as “have the same concern for one another.” Note “same care (or concern) for one another.” It means no member should be ignored or not cared for. The human body is designed not to have division, but that one member is not independent of the other members and if one member suffers (or is honored) the other members also suffer (or rejoice with him/her) (1 Corinthians 12:26). This is equally true for the church.
I don’t know about you. But I must admit I have not achieved that, namely, having the same care for one another. It haunts me whenever I think of the cry of the psalmist, “No one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142:4). Are you one of those who is crying out like the psalmist? Does anyone care for me? Do they care how I am doing physically or spiritually? Do they even notice me? If yes, then we certainly need to address this.
To be fair, there are some fervent care givers in our midst and we commend them for their service. I believe they too need to receive the care, encouragement and support from others. The point is that God wants us to have mutual care for one another, not just having a few care givers doing all the work. Everyone must be involved as God requires of us.
Now, what does it take to have the same care for one another? Here are some pertinent passages which I would like to highlight.
1. We must have love for one another
John says, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:12). If we love one another, we have his or her best interest at heart. We do not want to see harm befalling him or her. Paul says, “Love does no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). How are we to love? Paul says, “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another” (CSB Romans 12:10a). Our love for others must be manifested in our actions, not just words (1 John 3:18; James 2:15-16).
In the Bible, we see that caring for someone involves doing something for him or her. Here are two passages for our consideration:
For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36)
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. … But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ (Luke 10:30, 33-35)
2. We need to live in harmony with one another
Paul says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation” (CSB Romans 12:16). Be approachable and be humble. Don’t be aloof. Peter has something to say too. “Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”" (1 Peter 5:5).
3. We need to greet one another
Amazingly, this is one of the most neglected things which we need to do. Paul says, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Rom. 16:16). Maybe not with a holy kiss in our context but greeting one another whenever we see each other. Greeting one another is showing our courtesy to one another as Peter says we should do. “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8). Courtesy begets courtesy and it gives a good impression to the other. This certainly helps to develop mutual feelings of respect for one another.
4. We need to bear another’s burdens
Paul says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). There are times when what others need is just a caring ear. Are we willing to give others a caring ear? Again, Paul says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). If we actively look out for the interests of others, it shows that we care for them and they know we do.
5. We need to comfort and encourage one another
Paul says, “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Are we concerned with one another? If so, we need to exhort and edify one another. We need to “comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (CSB 1 Thessalonians 5:14). Note that it is not just the work of the elders and the minister, but all brethren.
There are many more passages that we can touch on, but these are some of the things we can do if we have mutual care for one another. I believe if we follow these instructions or just some of these instructions, it will have a positive impact on the health of the church. Try it out and expect to see the result!
As we start the New Year, will you do your part just as I will strive to do my part to have the care or concern for others? Let us resolve to do things for the good of others. Paul says, “Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
Now that you have heard the word concerning showing care for one another, and if you do it, you will be blessed in what you do. That is what James says.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 2:22-25).
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Questions for Reflection:
In what way (or ways) is the church like the human body?
As a member of the church, how are you involved in the sorrow or joy of your fellow brethren?
What practical ways can you show concern or care for your fellow brethren in the new year? What do you think the church would be like if every member shows concern for one another?
Answers:
The church is described as one body, with many members, and all do not have the same function, yet every member is needed to care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:20-27).
This is what the church as a body should be like (1 Corinthians 12:26).