I’ve subscribed to several newsletters from Smallgroups.com and their e-mail from yesterday caught my eye.
Has anyone ever told you to “mind your own business?” Ironically, the New Testament asks us to mind each other’s business. And in a small group we have the chance to do just that; to encourage one another, to bear one another’s burdens, to weep with those who weep and to mourn with those who mourn… yes, even to “admonish one another.” After all, if my friends in Christ won’t help me recognize where I am slipping or cheer me on to obedience, who will? And how can I grow to maturity if no one helps me?
Hebrews 10:24 says “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” That was written not just to pastors, but to all believers!
Taken from Small Group Dynamics ezine article: “Who Says So” by Steve Cordle, March, 2007.
Last night we finished up our study of Philippians’s and Paul mentions several things to the church of Philippi that I thought were very applicable to this same concept, idea.
- I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it.
- It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.
- You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one.
The church at Philippi shared in Paul’s burdens. They helped him when no one else would. They showed concerned and came alongside him in his troubles. They were in Paul’s business and ultimately God’s business.
If we as the church are going to be about God’s business we better be ready to get in the business of others.
We must be willing to help the needy on each and every street corner and in every pew and seat of our church.
“For they will know that we are Christians by our t-shirts love.”
We also better be slow to say, “Mind your own bees wax” and be quick to say, “I’m struggling. I need some help.”
We have to be ready and willing to admit our own failings and leave pride behind.
Why is this such a hard concept for the you and/or the church of today?
