Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

A paraphrase of Romans 12:10b “in honour preferring one another” is Philippians 2:3-4 “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

This is the mind of Christ that the Apostle Paul tells us believers ought to have in their conduct. Our Lord Jesus Christ sets us the example in humble service and sacrifice. Philippians 2:1-2 “1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” This is the Holy Spirit’s fruit in believers’ life. It is a testimony of true spiritual life.

Believers are exhorted by the Apostle Paul to have brotherly love one for another. Be devoted to care one to another because we belong to the household of God. The early church showed such kind affections, brotherly kindness, one for another. Hodge says well, “No doubt, the idea is, Christians should love each other with the same sincerity and tenderness as if they were the nearest relatives.”

Members of the early church showed such brotherly affections:

Acts 2:44-46 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

The word “cleave” literally means “glue together”. It speaks of a life given to doing good.

It begins with a transformed mind through the meditation of God’s Word as the psalmist says in Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

Here in Psalm 1:2 is put forward a real condition, if the condition is fulfilled, then the results will surely follow. The literal translation from the Hebrew “For if in the law of the LORD is his delight or pleasure” then the result in Psalm 1:3 will come to pass, it a promise from God. If we delight in the law of the Lord and meditate upon it consistently and continually, the result is fruitfulness and prosperity of the soul, this is the promise given in verse 3 – “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The psalmist in psalm 1:1 pronounced the man who abhors that which is evil as a blessed man. He says “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1)

The first are ungodly, as to their mind, the second are sinners, who not only think, but carry out the workings of their evil mind. The third are scorners glorying in their wickedness and scoffing at righteousness. The first continue in that mind of taking evil counsel, the second carry it out, as the principle of their walk and the third settle down in their evil, as on a seat.

The Apostle Paul speaks now of inter-personal relations among believers and with non-Christians that it is to be characterised by sincere love one for another. “Without dissimulation” means sincerely, genuinely, without hypocrisy. It must not be affected, pretentious like a stage actor wearing a mask. The Christian is to do good and hate evil.

Jesus teaches us the blessing of showing mercy to others in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” The merciful are compassionate, benevolently merciful involving thought and action. And those who obtain mercy are those who are freed from deserved punishment. It is the outworking of God’s love in one’s heart.

Solomon’s words in Proverbs 27:23 is a good paraphrase of our text, “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.” Charles Bridges said well, “This declareth the great goodness of God towards man, and the diligence that he requireth of him for the preservaion of his gifts. It is a lively picture of the occupations, advantages, and responsibilities of rural life in olden days. It is specially appropriate to a nation, whose chief riches were in its early origin, in pastures and flocks. Their father Jacob admirably exemplified this rule. He knew well the state of his flocks and herds. Even King David, mindful of his ancient employ, deemed a pastoral charge no degradation to his royal dignity. The rule inculcates personal attention… God is glorified by a single eye and purpose in every station; by the labourer, the farmer, the servant is no less than his master. (Col. 3:22-24). We must “serve the Lord in fervency of spirit”.”