Love, Rom. 12:9-21
Paul stressed humility in service in the previous section of Romans. Humility and love go hand in hand. Love is the benevolent force that moved God to send Jesus and also motivated Jesus to die for us. Likewise, service to our fellow man springs from sincere love. Sadly, there is also a love that is insincere and pretended. Hypocritical love, love that is merely a theatrical act. It is possible to put on a display of service that is entirely self-serving and self-gratifying. Such a display may bring praise from men, but not from God. True love seeks the good of those we love and serve. Pretended love is evil. True love is good.
Brotherly love, philadelphia, is the love that binds the family of God together in the deepest kind of fellowship and friendship. Both agape love and philadelphia love cause us to be devoted to fellow Christians and fellowmen in general. Love does not merely feel kindly toward others; it works to make things better for others. Love looks to see others succeed and do well. Do we not see this every day in the family of God at Cameron Road? People in the world constantly strive to get ahead of others, but Christians seek the welfare of others before themselves. There is no limit to the good that can be done when we are not merely seeking recognition. Let us serve with zeal, always willing to work. The admonitions in verses 12-13 call on us to be joyful as we serve in hope, and patient if we suffer for well-doing. Being faithful in prayer means to pray always. Generosity and hospitality characterize those who love God and one another. And our good deeds are not limited to those who also love us (Matt. 5:43-48).
Verses 14-15 challenge us to seek the welfare of those who would harm us. It is easy to have a knee-jerk reaction when someone treats us spitefully. But we must learn to imitate Christ in blessing rather than cursing them. We must not allow the negative ways of others to pull us down; rather we must seek to lift them up. The Christian life is not reactive, but proactive. We cannot control what others say about us or do to us, but we can and must seek their welfare. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). So reads the “golden rule.” Christians join in both the happiness and sadness of others. When we act this way, nothing will separate us. Sometimes careless words or deeds threaten to disrupt the harmony of God’s family. We can overcome it. Sometimes pride or prejudice may try to unsettle the church. Paul urges us to be on the same level with one another. The ground is level at the foot of Jesus’ cross.
The price of getting even is too high. Two wrongs never make a right. Do those things that no one can question. Things that make peace (Rom. 14:19). Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Some people cannot be pacified but we treat them right anyway. It is God’s business to avenge. Paul quotes the wise man as he urges us to feed an enemy who is hungry, and to give him drink (Prov. 25:21-22). To heap coals of fire on another’s head is to do him right even when he does you wrong. The adversary’s conscience may burn and move him to do better. The last verse of chapter 12 would go far to cure the ills of the world: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (12:21).
My comments are not an inspired commentary, but rather a few words to draw attention to the background, context, and dynamic situation of the book of Acts. May God bless your reading of His Word. T.C.
