Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
There are two life-skills I wished someone taught me earlier in life. The first is how best to handle conflict. The second, how to best handle failure. These two separate the men from the boys and the women from the girls.
If you want relationships and tasks to become more rewarding, than ingrain these two components into your character. Otherwise, by not properly handling the same situation will lead you down a path of more frustration and bitterness.
Those of us who have learned the hard way can now better equip to teach others. We are now in the position to mentor our children and grandchildren more effectively. To give them a greater advantage throughout life. We can train our employees how to better themselves in the marketplace. We can coach our fellow believers how to live a more abundant life within the faith community. We who have struggled and learned God’s way of dealing with conflict and failure now have a ministry to share with others.
The same is true in our walk with the Triune God and His earthly family.
The apostle Paul writes in Romans that those of us who are strong in the faith are obliged to care for those who are weak. We are not to self-grandiose the situation, but help build them up in the Lord.
Our role model is Jesus. From a position of royalty and strength, HE served others. HE help others to see their faults in a diplomatic fashion. At times HE encouraged them. Other times HE inspired them. And depending on who HE was relating too, HE would chastise them for their good. Everything HE did was from a position of love. Sometimes tough love, but always concern for the other.
HE is my role model. HE has gracefully walked with me over the years. Whether life’s situations were at the top of the mountain or at the very low crevice’s of life, HE patiently allowed me to learn from my errors of judgement. HE didn’t shoot me down with a bolt of lighting in my rebellious state. HE didn’t have to spank me. The circumstances I produced from my decisions were pain enough. But HE was and is always available to listen. His purpose wasn’t to make me fail. But to learn from the ordeal. To keep trucking until the finish line was behind us. When I slowly learned life is a process preparing us for eternity for a role in HIS Kingdom, failure became easier to put behind me.
Failure doesn’t define us. But only reassured us we are HIS. We are HIS workmanship (Eph 2:10). As we walk with HIM. As we talk with HIM. As we serve HIM. We slowly become more like HIM.
And when you realize HIS mission is to replicate HIS character and values in you, every failure is the graceful means of becoming more and more like HIM. Now if only we can remember this when we experience our next failure.
Rooting For You in Christ!
Dr. Mike
Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler
Learn & Grow with these eBooks:
- The Adventurous Journey of Transformation in Christ (Now Available)
- Overflowing Prayers Rooted in Jesus Christ v1 & v2
- Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
- Great Business Emulates a Good God
- Stay Free…Avoid Worldly Traps
- Simply The Messenger
- Unequally Married
Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!
Radical In Christ 