20/03/2011 - The limit at pleasing our neighbour

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“Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, leading to edification.” (Romans 15: 2)

We need to always pay heed to what the Word of God’s telling us. Many people are saying “yes” to errors while they think they’re obeying the Lord. A man or a woman who tends to be understanding to someone else who has committed a sin is as guilty as the transgressor. In that case, it’s highly recommended to frankly yet bluntly reprimand them.

In all our decisions and answers we must obey the Word of the Lord. As we ask for His guidance and if we are sincere the Holy Spirit will show us the right words to say under any circumstances. My brother, no teaching of the Holy Book was given to us by chance. Through the Holy Book, Lord guides us before any step we take. So, those who want to please God will never lack guidance.

Many people are behaving in a way to please the devil rather than our Father; when their spouse and children and friends are committing a sin, they tend to think they should be condescending to them and not reprimand them. Well, that’s exactly what the devil wants. Yet, when we fairly reprimand someone, it turns out that that becomes a mercy gesture from God for the harmed person who, if sensible, will never reject it. The very apostle Paul needed to reprimand Peter; yet, he did that respectfully (Galatians 2:11).

Only good things for edification must be allowed. So the devil feels he’s got a right to keep on using your child who got involved in homosexuality or the one on drugs, in criminality or any other condemned practice in the Scriptures whenever you tell him or her you’re about to be understanding and, perhaps, he or she will convert to Christ one day. My brother, the Holy Bible states that our family or friends must be abandoned for the sake of the Gospel if necessary (Matthew 10: 37; Luke 14: 26). So, we might even lose someone’s friendship but we’ve got to tell them we aren’t in agreement with their attitude because that will lead them to hell.

The moment we use the Scriptures to show someone their error, they’ll feel at once they’re doing exactly what Satan wishes them to do to drag them towards doom. As they realize the price they’ll have to pay for not obeying the Lord, they might repent and end up being forgiven by the Most High as well as receiving His mercy. We’ll be doing the best job in favour of those who are being deceived once we are sincere and resolute.

When we say to someone we understand their mistake we’re doing what’s worst both to them and to us. To the light of the Word of God “If a person sins in hearing the utterance of an oath, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of the matter—if he does not tell it, he bears guilt.” (Leviticus 5: 1) You must never become guilty for overlooking somebody else’s error, though that will cost you a high price. It isn’t worth to live off somebody else’s iniquity, whoever they might be.

It’s worth suffering any harm for the sake of the Gospel and Jesus. The Lord said that everyone that leaves behind their friends, ownership, family or something else for Him will receive much more as an eternal reward.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares