Caring For the Weak (11/21/11)

Shalom,

Please begin by reading Rom 15:1-3.

Americans were asked: "What are you willing to do for $10 million?" These were some of their responses, and as we can see, some people don't have very good standards of right and wrong or any solid faith in anything outside themselves.

25% would abandon their family.

25% would abandon their church.

23% would become prostitutes for a week.

16% would leave their spouses.

16% would give up their citizenship.

10% would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free.

7% would kill a stranger.

3% would put their children up for adoption.

Marcus Aurelius, a noted philosopher and the Roman emperor about 100 years after the Apostle Paul's ministry, identified the following traits of a successful person. 1) Consciousness of an honest purpose in life. 2) A just estimate of himself and everyone else. 3) Frequent self-examinations. 4) Steady obedience to what he knows to be right. 5) Indifference to what others may think or say about themselves.

As we can see, standards of decency and justice haven't changed that much over the centuries. What people believe to be good and right has pretty much stayed the same throughout human history. The fact that we continue to have people who make their living caring for the weak points out that it's still a commendable thing in most people's minds. I know I appreciate those who work in nursing homes, assisted living homes, and other places where handicapped or hurting people are cared for.

Rom 15:1 says, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Failings here means frailties. We're not necessarily talking about human failings. All of us struggle to some extent with these, those things we screw up and the things we just plain don't get right from day to day. Frailties here is referring to the kind of problems we encounter which can't be overcome without the help of others.

The literal translation of weak is "non-strong." This shows us there's a definite separation between the strong and weak. The scripture says the strong"ought" to help others strictly for the benefit of those we're helping. It's in the present tense, emphasizing our continuing obligation to offer help and assistance to those who're truly in need. Offering help to people who for the most part can't take care of themselves is a very good thing in the eyes of our Lord and Master. Many times I've heard people question why there are mentally and physically handicapped people in our world. The first answer is because we live in a fallen world where there are clear differences in people's abilities and obvious needs. The question we all need to consider is as followers of Jesus, "What is my role in caring for these needy people?" Our heavenly Father expects that we'll do our best to help even the most profoundly handicapped person to live well.

Maybe we all need to think a little more clearly about who and what we are ourselves. We all need to recognize that every human is weak in some form or fashion. Now, weak and strong are relative terms. They're never used in the Bible to speak of someone being absolutely weak or strong. Rather, the Bible let's us know that we're all weak and strong in certain areas of our lives. One of the reasons we need to live in community with other humans is because our Creator designed us to live in relationship and fellowship with others. He wants us to combine our talents and resources and efforts to provide for one another.

We need to offer our strength, whatever it may be, to help others who are weaker than ourselves. We need to set aside our weaknesses to provide strength for people who need our help. Yahweh tells us to care for those who truly need our help. He often speaks of caring for widows and orphans as being something truly right and good and just in his sight. We all need to encourage one another to do this kind of good and godly work. We need to bless one another in the efforts we put forth on behalf of needy people.

How does Yahweh view weakness? Words like weak and weakness appear 87 times in the New Testament. In all these passages there's not one word of condemnation for the weakness. The weaknesses aren't lifted up as worthy of praise either. Perhaps the best way we can put it is that Yahweh tolerates weakness. He strives to free all people from weakness and to have their needs provided for, either by attaining to individual maturity and learning ourselves, or by having those who are able to care for themselves also care for those who can't. If we have a heart to serve in honor of our Lord and Master, we can accomplish great things for Yahweh's Kingdom.

Matt 12:20 says this about Jesus: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." The reeds of that area grew up to 10-15 feet tall. They aren't flimsy, but are fairly strong and rigid. They were often cut off at the base and used as a measuring stick or even a walking stick. But if a reed happened to have a bruise on it, it was weak and not any good anymore. If that was the case it was broken off and cast aside.

How does Jesus view the "bruised reeds," the truly weak people in our world? He doesn't break them and cast them aside. Knowing how fragile they are, he loves them. He spends time with them. He identifies with their weakness. He doesn't cast them aside as many humans are prone to do with those they believe to be of no practical use. But he also challenges these weaker ones to attain to higher things, to attempt to become strong and able to help others.

What about the smoking wick? In those days homes were lit by lamps made from a bowl of oil with a strip of flax placed in it for a wick. When the oil burned low, the flax began to smoke and smolder. It was very irritating to have this smoke fill your house. The natural thing to do, and the simplest, was to reach over and snuff out the flax. Poof, and all you have is one dead wick. No more smoky irritation or weak light. To do this is perfectly understandable, all so perfectly human.

But Jesus wouldn't do that. He endures the irritation as he works to replenish the supply of oil. He leans over to carefully pour fresh oil into the bowl. He gently works to keep from snuffing out the wick, thereby returning the lamp to efficient use. That's how our Lord and Master tries to work with the weak. We need to learn how to use his gentleness and compassion to bless people who need our help.

Yahweh isn't naive. He knows about our weaknesses just like he knew about Peter's temper and loud mouth. Jesus knew the disciples would scatter the night he was betrayed. He accepted their weaknesses and he maintained his trust in them so they could eventually walk in spiritual strength to spread his Kingdom. Our heavenly Father loves the weak, and that includes each and every one of us. He loves those who help the weak, providing for their needs and caring for them with godly love and kindness.

Those who are stronger have a responsibility to care for those who are weaker. Strength isn't given to the strong so they can impose themselves on others, strutting around showing off their advantage. Yahweh strengthens people so they can then support the weak. We can't answer all the questions that are asked about why there's suffering and weakness in our world. But we can trust in Yahweh and believe that those who are strong can and should provide for the needs of those who are weak.

The evolutionary cry, survival of the fittest, is certainly not a godly position. We know there's some truth in this, but we also know that our Creator wants us to care for those who are weaker than ourselves. There's no room for imposing ourselves on others in Yahweh's Kingdom. The Creator, our Designer, has told us that the greatest among us will also be the greatest servant. That's a concept that we have to submit to because our natural inclination would have us striving for mastery over others. The instruction of Rom 15:1 ended with, "not to please ourselves." We're not to accommodate our own desires, but to bless and serve others first. This is what pleases our Father in heaven.

I want to say thanks to everyone for their outstanding efforts in caring for the needs of others. I want to bless anyone who does this work. I pray that the Body of Christ can step into this area with zeal and energy. May we provide comfort and care for those Yahweh places before us. May we all be more mindful of what Acts 20:35 tells us. "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Blessings & Peace, Mike