Duty Bound

Pastor Don Carpenter

2021 Bible Reading Challenge

When DAVE THOMAS died in early 2002, he left behind more than just thousands of Wendy’s restaurants. He also left a legacy of being a practical, hard-working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values.

Among the pieces of good advice that have outlived the smiling entrepreneur is his view of what Christians should be doing with their lives. Thomas, who as a youngster was influenced for Christ by his grandmother, said that believers should be “roll-up-your-shirt sleeves” Christians.

In his book Well Done, Thomas said, “Roll-up-your-shirtsleeves Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study Scripture with devotion, be super-active in their church and take their ministry to others to spread the Good Word.” He went onto say they are “anonymous people who are doing good for Christ may be doing even more good than all the well-known Christians in the world.”

That statement has more meat in it than a Wendy’s triple burger. Thomas knew ab out hard work in the restaurant business; and he knew it is vital in the spiritual world also.

Let’s Roll-up-our-shirt sleeves, there is plenty to do.

(Source: Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread. From a sermon by Dennis Davidson, Authentic Faith Works, 10/26/2009)

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The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Romans as a treatise on Salvation, how to obtain it and what to do with it once you have. In Chapter 15, Paul is summarizing the life of a believer. In verse one he uses a word that characterizes that summary. The word is “ought”.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 71.25 ??????

71.25 ??????c: to be obligatory in view of some moral or legal requirement—‘ought, to be under obligation.’

God has much to say about how we are to behave in this world. This passage in a simple summary of our obligations as followers of Christ. These are the building blocks of character. These are the things to which we are duty bound to pursue.

We Ought to Bear The Infirmities of the Weak

Romans 15:1 KJV

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

We That Are Strong(er)

Refers to believers who confidently trust that they no longer have to adhere to the religious rules they practiced before coming to Christ. Freedom in Christ clears their conscience (see 14:1).1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ro 15:1.

to bear Paul encourages more than just tolerance; he wants the strong to be sympathetic toward the weak, even willing to restrict their freedom to prevent the weak from acting against their consciences. This is an opportunity for the strong to demonstrate the love of Christ and the unity of the Spirit.

Infirmities of the weak

“Infirmities” is asthen?ma (????????), used of physical or mental weakness.

the weak Refers to those who are unconfident about what they can or cannot eat. See note on 14:1.1

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ro 15:1.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

 The Christian fellowship should be marked by the consideration of its members for each other. Always their thoughts should be not for themselves but for each other. But this consideration must not degenerate into an easy-going, indulgent lack of concern. It must always be designed for the good and for the upbuilding in the faith of the other person. It is not the toleration which tolerates because it is too lazy to do anything else. It is the toleration which knows that people may be won much more easily to a fuller faith by surrounding them with an atmosphere of love than by attacking them with a battery of criticism.1

1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 3rd ed. fully rev. & updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 230.

We Ought to Seek to Build Up Our Neighbor First.

Romans 15:2–3 KJV

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 

For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

John 6:38 KJV

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

1 Corinthians 10:24 KJV

Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

Philippians 2:4 KJV

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 Joni Eareckson Tada recently told a story commenting on Romans 15:1-2: “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

 She writes, “My husband, Ken, serves as a track-and-field coordinator for Special Olympics. There is always band music, colorful banners, and flags everywhere. Scattered across the infield are teams of mentally handicapped young people.

 “A few years ago at the games, Ken blew his whistle to signal the contestants for the 50-yard dash. A Down’s syndrome girl with thick glasses and a short, stocky boy in baggy shorts were the first to line up. There was a moment of stillness, then a bang from the starting gun. Off they sprinted–six contestants bobbing and weaving down the track.

 “Suddenly the boy in baggy shorts began running toward his friends in the infield. Ken blew his whistle to direct him back to the track, but it was no use. At that point, the Down’s syndrome girl, who was just a few yards from the finish line, turned around, ran toward him, and gave him a big hug. Together they got back on the track and completed the race arm-in-arm, long after the rest of the contestants had crossed the finish line.”

 She ends by saying, “We must run the race not to please ourselves, but to please the Lord. That often means taking time to stop and put our arms around a weaker friend who needs to get back on track. Have you watched a fellow believer get spiritually confused, and yet you’ve kept on going? Jesus doesn’t seems as preoccupied with ‘winning’ as we do. The important thing is how we run the race. And we are called to run it, bearing with the failings of those who are weak.”

(From a sermon by Rodney Buchanan, Christ’s Prayer for the Church, 6/6/2011)

We Ought to Read and Learn From the Book

Romans 15:4 KJV

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1 Corinthians 9:10 KJV

Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

 The Christian fellowship should be marked by the study of Scripture; and, from that study of Scripture, Christians draw encouragement. Scripture, from this point of view, provides us with two things. (a) It gives us the record of God’s dealing with a nation, a record which is the demonstration that it is always better to be right with God and to suffer than to be wrong with society and to avoid trouble. The biblical history of Israel is the demonstration in the events of history that ultimately life turns out well for the good, but evil comes to the wicked. Scripture demonstrates not that God’s way is ever an easy way, but in the end it is the only way to everything that makes life worthwhile in time and in eternity. (b) It gives us the great and precious promises of God. It is said that the great preacher Alexander Whyte sometimes had a habit of uttering one text when he left a home during his pastoral visitation; and, as he uttered it, he would say: ‘Put that under your tongue and suck it like a sweetie.’ These promises are the promises of a God who never breaks his word. In these ways, Scripture gives to those who study it comfort in their sorrow and encouragement in their struggle.

1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 3rd ed. fully rev. & updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 230–231.

1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

2 Corinthians 3:12 KJV

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

2 Timothy 2:25 KJV

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

We Ought to Be Like Minded Toward Each Other

Romans 15:5 KJV

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Ezekiel 11:19 KJV

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

A number of years ago in Canada, a little two-year-old girl wandered away from her neighborhood. It was a cold, winter day. Her parents alerted the neighbors and they saw some tracks in the snow, but there were a lot of other tracks, so for several hours the searchers went in all different directions calling her name. They didn’t find her. A little before sunset one of the men said, “Instead of all working separately, let’s join hands and form a long line and walk through the field together. That way we cannot miss a square foot.”

That’s what they did. They joined hands and together walked as one long line calling that little girl’s name. Tragically, they found her frozen body curled up. One of the men said with great anguish, “Oh, if we had only joined hands sooner.

We Ought To Unite in Praise With One Voice

Romans 15:6 KJV

That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 32:39 KJV

And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

Psalm 102:18 KJV

This shall be written for the generation to come: And the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

 The Christian fellowship should be marked by praise. It is no bad test to apply to people to ask whether the main accent of their voices is one of grumbling discontent or cheerful thanksgiving. ‘What can I do, who am a little old lame man,’ said Epictetus, ‘except give praise to God?’ Christians should enjoy life because they enjoy God. They will carry their secret within them, for they will be sure that God is working all things together for good.

1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, 3rd ed. fully rev. & updated., The New Daily Study Bible (Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), 232.

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