Let each of us please his neighbor for his good,to build him up.
It is generally a simple thing for us to look after ourselves. That is not to say that we do not occasionally (at least) make poor choices regarding self-care, but rather to say that we have little problem thinking about ourselves. “Look out for number one” is a mantra that has been popular for some time. And, “number one” is, in this case, each of us as individuals. We typically take good care of ourselves (something that Paul clearly understood, according to Ephesians 5:29). We are usually careful to ensure that we get everything that we need— and often much more.
Being Christian men and women, however, brings with it certain responsibilities. One of those responsibilities is the call to take good care of others. In particular, we are commanded to be a positive and encouraging people. This means that we must be cognizant of our words and our actions. We must choose carefully both the things that we say and the things that we do. It is expected that we be people who spread joy and love through our attitudes and actions. We are to be openly thankful, and openly gracious to all those around us, especially those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Jesus himself said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
As we worship God together today, let us make a commitment to be more loving, more responsive, and more helpful toward one another. At the same time, let us commit to being less self-focused, turning our hearts and minds more and more toward the community that God has created for us in Christ Jesus.
–Ricky