“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”-Romans 12:10
The phrase, “Look out for number one” is a growing motto in our world. Cambridge Dictionary defines this idiom as follows: “to do what you think is best for yourself and not care about other people.” No doubt there is certainly value in taking care of ourselves spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc. Still, it’s scary how easily we can be consumed with ourselves. If we’re honest, thinking of ourselves comes pretty easy for all of us. We don’t have to try very hard to “Look out for number one.” But God has a better way.
Let’s read Romans 12:10 again slowly: “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” In this passage, we’re given instructions from the Lord, through the Apostle Paul, that are actually focused not on ourselves but on others. We are commanded to very intentionally put effort toward, to specifically give our energy to loving others. This includes offering to others real love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13: showing patience, being kind, not being proud or rude, never giving up on others, etc. Romans 12:10 is all about thinking of others, giving to others, building up others. Others. What an important word from God to us that we must not ignore or forget.
In God’s great wisdom, He knows we need directions on loving others, on encouraging others. For loving and honoring another isn’t natural for us. We don’t drift toward this way. The opposite is natural for us. It’s a supernatural thing for us to love others well and delight in honoring others! And interestingly, it’s better for us when we purposefully love someone else. It forces us to think beyond ourselves! Loving others gets our thoughts off of “number one.” Obviously when we do this, it’s beneficial to others too. What a better way!
Who can we love today? Romans 12:10 gives us a very specific way to love others well. We are to delight in honoring each other. To delight in is to take joy in, to happily do something. To honor is to show admiration, to display respect, to give special recognition to another. Thus, we are to enjoy showing respect to others. We are to happily encourage someone else in the name of Jesus! So, let’s tell the family member how grateful we are for a specific, good character trait we see in her. Let’s go out of our way to build someone up for doing a good job at something. Let’s be quick to speak a kind word to a stranger. Most certainly, let’s freely encourage our fellow brother and sister in Christ in all kinds of ways! God is honored this way! People are helped! As we walk in relationship with Christ, let’s reflect Him well, outdoing one another in showing honor. What a better way indeed!
Cheer up, friends!
-Scott