BE NICE TO EACH OTHER
Today I want to talk to you about how the Bible says we should treat each other. Sometimes, because of our human nature we can tend to treat each other pretty poorly. Part of our human nature pulls us toward being totally self centered people and when we don't get our way, we are inclined to lash out at those who we feel are keeping us from getting our way. Sometimes we even do this in front of other people, embarrassing the person we are angry at and making ourselves look down right mean.
Sometimes we can get angry or bitter with other people because maybe they have things that we don't have or maybe they've been given an honor that we felt we deserved, or who knows maybe we just think they're better looking than we are and so we hate 'em for that. Whatever the reason we feel gives us the right to treat someone else poorly --- WE ARE WRONG!
Jesus told us in Matthew chapter 22 that the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as you love your self. By keeping this commandment as well as the greatest commandment which is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, we will automatically keep all of Gods laws. Now I want you to turn with me to Exodus chapter 20. Here we have the ten commandments. Think about it, the first four commandments are all about loving God and the last six are all about loving your neighbor. So it is with all of God's laws.
Now lets take a look at a few more things that the bible says about how we should treat each other.
Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself."
John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Love one another. The first and most important lesson is one anothering. Love one another. You may not know it, but the Bible has more to say about this one anothering stuff. Lets take a look.
We also have Romans 10:12 which tells us to be devoted to one another in brotherly love and also to honor one another.
12:16 tells us to live in harmony with one another.
14:13 tells us to stop passing judgement on one another.
15:7 tells us to accept one another.
15:14 tells us to instruct one another.
16:16 tells us to greet one another.
Eph. 4:2 tells us to patient with one another and to bear with one another in love.
4:32 tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another.
5:21 tells us to submit to one another.
Colossians 3:13 tells us to forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
13:16 tells us to admonish one another with all wisdom.
1 Thess. 5:11 tells us to encourage one another and build each other up.
1 Peter 4:9 tells us to offer hospitality to one another.
I think you get the idea. The Bible is full of instruction on how we should treat each other. The bottom line here is -- BE NICE TO EACH OTHER.
Because I don't find any scriptures that say be mean to one another, insult one another, condemn one another, humiliate one another, lie to one another, cheat one another, steal from one another, hate one another or kill one another. No, that sort of instruction just is not to be found in the holy word of God.
I think that it is also good for us to be on our guard against being critics of our brothers and sisters who are serving the church. If someone is doing a work for the church that is approved by the pastor and the congregation, we should not take it upon ourselves to criticize that person if we don't like how or why that work is being done. As the Bible says it's fine to admonish with wisdom (in other words have a gentle discussion) but never be a critic. If someone comes into this church and wants to serve, but if when they do they see their work criticized and not appreciated, then that will surely crush their spirit and they will no longer want to serve this church. We should ask ourselves, would we want our service to the church to be criticized?
We must also remember that just because something is not being done our way does not mean it's being done the wrong way. Sometimes God will bring change into our lives in order to make us better, more godly people, better able to do his work. When the people of Israel resisted God's efforts to make them a better people he grew weary of them and called them stiff-necked people and did not want to be in their presence. Let us not become a stiff-necked people, but let us be open to the Spirit of God and be willing to allow him to move among us and make us better people, better prepared to his work.
So the next time you feel like you want to lash out at someone. The next time that you feel like you really have the right to put someone in their place. STOP! Humble yourself and think about it. Remember what spirit you are of - and then, let your first thought, let your very first thought be love.
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Mike Tifft - The Preacherman
