Today's Word of Encouragement (6/13/2020)

Today, we will see what the Larger Catechism has to say about our duty/calling to our equals. In our families, this can apply to the spouses and the siblings (even though there are functional hierarchies in these relationships). In our church, this would apply to our fellow members. Again, let’s first see what is required:

“The duties of equals are the following:

• to pay attention to the dignity and worth of each other;

• to give honor to others, letting them go before one’s self;

• and to rejoice in others’ gifts and advancements as though they were one’s own” (Q. 131).

What is forbidden?

“The sins of equals, besides the neglect of the duties required, are the following:

• undervaluing the worth of others;

• envying their gifts;

• grieving at the advancement or prosperity of others;

• and usurping one another in preeminence” (Q. 132).

What stands out is the idea of mutual respect. This is because equals can easily fall into the trap of rivalry and envy. There is a healthy kind of competition among friends, iron sharpening iron. But rivalry without mutual respect, rivalry based on envy, will put equals in opposition against each other, destroying their friendship and driving them farther and farther apart. The kind of mutual respect described here is not the give-and-take, you-scratch-my-back-and-I-will-scratch-your-back-too kind. It is the kind of mutual respect that Paul speaks of in Phil. 3:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. et each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

How can equals have that kind of mutual respect? Paul tells us that we need the mind of Christ:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:5-8).

This is not something a needy and jealous sinner can do. But it is something we can do if we are in Christ, having tasted the abundance of God’s grace in Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit. Paul began this section with these words: “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…” (Phil. 2:1). As Christ humbled Himself out of the fullness of His deity, we can humble ourselves and count others more significant than others if our hearts are filled with the abounding love of Jesus Christ. For it takes a truly confident man to heartily compliment others and genuinely rejoice with others. This confidence we have in the perfect love of Christ.

As we remember Christ’s all-sufficient love and seek to honor and serve others, may the Lord multiply our joy in Christ, which cannot be compared to the temporary and empty pleasure of self-promotion and one-upmanship!

‍