A Proper Attitude Toward Our Brethren

It is always sad to hear of congregations of the Lord's church splitting.  Yet, we hear of this far too often.  We hear of congregations that just cannot seem to get along and the bicker and fight so that eventually they split from each other. All the while they set a bad example for the community, hurt their evangelistic efforts, and hurt the members of the body of Christ.  Yet, some care little about that because they are so angered by someone else in the church.  They allow their own feelings to hurt the cause of Christ.

 

Sadly, many times this is done for trivial matters. Certainly, this is not what the Lord had in mind for his church. Rather, Scripture makes it clear that there should not be divisions in the church (I Corinthians 3:3).  Christ wants his body to be unified (Ephesians 4:3). This means that we need to put our egos in check and lookout for the good of others.  Epaphroditus is a man that exemplified this.

 

When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi he spoke of this man Epaphroditus and the great love that he had for his brothers and sisters in Christ.  Paul said "Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow" (Philippians 2:25-27). This man was sick nearly to the point of death, yet his concern is that his sickness would worry the Philippians.  What great love he shows us.

 

Do you think that a man with this kind of love for his brothers would allow some trivial matter to come between them?  Do you think he would even consider hurting the church because some person or group in the church had a personality conflict with him?  Certainly not! Epaphroditus would never be one accused of separating the church.  Why? Because he loved the church more than himself.  Wouldn't it be great if all members of the Lord's body were this way? The assembling of the saints would be a great time that everyone loved and appreciated, our evangelistic efforts would be much more successful, and God would be given the glory He deserves.  Let us strive to have the attitude of Epaphroditus.

 

-- Garrett Bookout