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How to Care for Others

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. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. ROMANS 15:1-7 ESV

Follow my mission and not my emotions

I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. ROMANS 15:16 NLT

My mission is:

If I try to make a difference everywhere, I won’t make a difference anywhere.

Respond according to my strength and ability

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ROMANS 15:1 ESV

Three questions to ask before you decide to help:

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. GALATIANS 6:1-2 NLT          

Create healthy boundaries

Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” LUKE 12:13-14 NLT

It is okay to:

The one who states his case first seems right until the other comes and examines him. PROVERBS 18:17 NLT

Focus on helping people who want to change

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ROMANS 15:2 ESV

Don’t confuse someone’s sadness over their present circumstance with readiness and desire to change their circumstance.

Stay more connected to God than the problem

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ROMANS 15:4-6 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place away from distractions and noise. Allow yourself to become calm in your thoughts and feelings. When you are ready, think about caring for others. Ask God, “How have you used me recently to help others? What were my feelings in doing each of these ministries? What strengths of mine did you use in these situations? What do you want my focus on caring for others to be in the future? What guidelines should I have in deciding who to care for and how to do it?” Take these questions to God and have a conversation with him about them. Ask God to bring to mind possible opportunities to care for people. Ask yourself if you have the desire, time, and calling to serve there effectively for each opportunity. What boundaries would you need to have in place for each of these ministries to ensure you conducted them wisely? Pray and ask God to help you determine if he wants you to get involved in one of these caring opportunities. If he does, ask him to help you to take one step this week to serve in that ministry. When you take action, thank him for his help and tell someone you trust what happened.

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. Read Romans 15:6. What do you believe are the major parts of your mission that God has called you to do (i.e. Spouse, parent, discipling, worship, etc.)? Recall a time in which you sensed your emotions were clouding your judgment in following God in accomplishing the mission he has for you. How did recalling his mission for you help with controlling your emotions? If you didn’t think about your mission, how do you think recalling it would have helped?
  3. Read Romans 15:1. When have you been tempted to respond to a need that was beyond your strength and ability to meet? How did you feel about that? What did you do?
  4. Read Luke 12:13-14. Think of a recent time in which you cared for someone in need. What guidelines did you use to ensure that you stayed within your resources of time, capabilities, and calling? What could you have done better to do this?
  5. Read Romans 15:2. Have you ever tried to help someone who didn’t want to grow? What was that like? What can you do next time to invest in people who want to change?
  6. Read 15:4-6. What about you would tempt you to try to care for others in your own strength? What can you do to overcome these temptations and serve others in God’s strength?