3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else. 5 For each one should carry his own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Rodney Clarke

We are always comparing ourselves to each other. My generation called it “Keeping up with the Joneses” – trying not to look worse than anyone else. Some people have more or less than you. But Paul urges us not to focus on them or on comparing yourself with others, but to focus on testing your own work (v 4). Or in Hebrews 12:1, each of us is to run the race set out for us. Everybody’s journey is different, but the destination is the same: the heavenly prize God has for us in Christ (Phil. 3:14).

We long for heaven, but in the meantime, we are called to bear one another’s burdens in love. What God calls us to do for each other is time-consuming and costly. But it’s about valuing others above ourselves (Phil. 2:3). I always find it difficult – how do you bear someone else’s burden without becoming embroiled in their problems? The messiness of life becomes the issue.

But no person is an island. We are Christ’s disciples because we have love for one another. I don’t want to reach out, but I need to – because I in turn can’t do it alone either. In a sense I am “nothing” if I think I can keep going my own way.

We are very fortunate that we have good and godly pastors and ministers who uphold us and teach us. We must look out for them as we also look out for each other. It’s all about how we live together side by side as believers, as we look forward eagerly for Christ’s return.

I struggle with many things. But I don’t need to struggle with them alone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rodney is a member of our Fairifield Morning congregation.