The use of a particular word struck me in this passage. In each of the first three verses is the use of the word ‘to please’. By definition, from Strong’s concordance, the Greek word means, “1) to please 2) to strive to please 2a) to accommodate one's self to the opinions desires and interests of others”.
These verses use this word in terms of how the strong should treat the weak. The strong are to bear the failings of the week and not to please themselves. The strong are to please their neighbors. Why? For their good and to build them up!
Have you ever been told you were a ‘people pleaser’? I can’t begin to tell you the times I have had colleagues in ministry comment on us, as clergy, wanting to please everyone in the church…to be a people pleaser. Yet, I’ve often wondered about this. In Romans, Paul encouraged the Romans to honor and respect each other. In today’s reading, he told the strong to seek to please the weaker believers so that they could do good to the weaker and encourage them in their faith.
So, I’m thinking that if we ‘people please’ in order to strengthen others, to respect and honor them, then we’re OK. But, maybe, ‘people pleasing’ takes a negative turn when we do it for ourselves so that others will like us or accept us more. Do you see the difference? The first is other-focused. The second is self-focused…
...just wondering…
