I liked Selwyn’s introduction: ” … when we reach out to others and care for them, we become less concerned about our own troubles and difficulties, and less prone to personality problems.”

I think that in today’s fast world, many (when not working) tend to retreat to their islands (their house, apartment or flat), and live a survival mode type of existence, with few relationships outside of their immediate family and one or two close friends. The world outside is represented by the shows they watch on TV or newspaper articles. Their ability to maintainn and nurture relationships is diminished over time.

Our life is based upon relationships -first; our relationship with God; and second, our relationship with each other. These two relationships must be based on love. Verses 12 & 13, from today’s set reading for reading and meditation (Romans 14:1-13, NLT), says: “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” The type of relationship we have with each other is important, we should not become an island and withdraw from human interaction – because we may cause some to feel rejected. The relationships we have, and those relationships we ignored or rejected – these actions will all need to be explained, to God.

I’m not sure what scientific evidence there is for the following statement made by Selwyn in today’s study, but it’s worth thinking about: “I have noticed that people with serious mental health issues are largely caught up in self-centred preoccupation. Mental illness is sometimes generated by physical factors, I know, but generally speaking, the reason why people become mentally ill is that they become for one reason or another, immersed in themselves, causing their withdrawal from relationships.”

It’s my view that, in general, the bulk of mental illness is caused by biochemical imbalances – however, I agree that withdrawal from relationships is often a warning sign that something is going wrong in a person’s life. Whatever the reason, turning to God in prayer is often the first step to recovery.

Do you agree?

I think Selwyn’s opening remarks captures the theme of today’s study really well.

He says: ” …more people are broken by self centredness than by anything else in life. The text before us today (Mark 8:35, NIV) – ‘For whoever wants to save his life will lose it … ‘ – underlines the fact that when we concentrate on ourselves, the self will go to pieces, not only spiritually but also I believe, mentally and physically.”

In a very real way, we give ourselves value when we recognise the value in others; that is, when we see others as loved by God and the (priceless) worth He has invested in them (His blood on the cross), we become more aware of His love for our own lives. Do you agree?

Selwyn has some very strong views on today’s topic.

He writes: “We turn now to consider another vital question about caring: What happens if we fail to reach out and help others? The answer is that we become wholly self-absorbed, wrapped up with our own problems and troubles. …

It can be shown that every self-centred person is an unhappy person – without exception. The habit of centring on oneself works badly – in fact, it plays havoc with the very self which is being centred upon. Every self-centred person is a disrupted person, and the disruption doesn’t just affect the mind and soul: it affects the body too, extending to the nerves and tissues, and poisoning them with disease.”  What’s your view on this issue?

The first six verses from those set for today’s reading and meditation, are worth thinking about, Romans 15:1-6 (NLT): “We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our amazing God, Jesus, showed the world on His cross, just how much He loves us – by becoming a sacrificial servant, and thereby providing us with an example (clearly articulated in the Scriptures) of how we should live our lives. We should do all we can, with the spirit of a servant (a servant, who put all others before themselves), to build others up in the Lord. A servant of Christ cannot be self-centred.

All those who are not being built up in the Lord, are disrupted personalities – they are not healthy members of God’s Kingdom. Do you agree?

I think Selwyn’s introduction and conclusion represents a challenger to all of us. Our local church is not a building but a community of people; people like you and me!

It’s up to each one of us to examine where we stand in relation to this issue; are we part of the problem or are we trying to be part of the solution?

Selwyn writes: ” … the corporate image of the local church is essential for its evangelistic impact on the community. We need to be doing God’s business – demonstrating care and love in our own community. …

If a church is not doing God’s business, being a loving, caring community. It can expect to find itself in the dark – and out of business!”

The prayer for today is one, which we can all say ‘Amen’ to: “Jesus, my Lord and Master, You shared Your love with me. Let me pass it on to others. Let me receive Your streams of living water. Let my guiding principle be: freely have I received, freely I give. Amen.”

In today’s study, Selwyn writes: ” … What is the music of the gospel? First, let me clarify the meaning of the word ‘gospel’. The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ (God) came to this earth to die for our sins and save us from death, hell and destruction. … The gospel makes an impact on a person’s life, and works its way into their relationships so their life is transformed – then their attitude and lifestyle became the music.”

However, in many Churches this music cannot be heard over the bickering about routine, traditions or church administrative matters. Consequently, while evangelical programs may bring some new people into a Church building; and, these people are often treated very well in the first instance, as new faces bringing a breath of fresh air into a stale environment.  In many case, due to the lack of ‘music’, they often leave to continue seeking the true joy of belonging to a living Christian community. Living Christian communities do exist, and they will continue to exist until the end of this age. You just need to listen for the music when you enter a Church building, to discern if it’s living or dying!

Any comments?

Overall, I must admit, I did not get a lot out of today’s study. If you found Selwyn’s words to be especially encouraging – please let me know and tell me why.

If, I had to pick, what I thought was okay then this would be it: “Evangelism must be in surround-sound. God speaks to His often-troubled children through two channels: the written Word, the Bible – and you, His ‘living epistle’. The best representation of Christianity is Christians – their joy, their love, their care and concern.”

Yet, as I mentioned a few days ago -in the average, western Church – there is little joy, little love and a rigid, traditional structure that provides some care and concern. Can you convince me that I’m wrong?

In one aspect I might agree with Selwyn that someone who is delivering a message should be ethical, of sound character; they should also demonstrate belief in the content of their message, often seen as sympathy or empathy; and, their message should communicate something – especially, new information (more so, when it’s good news).

Yet, I can’t entirely agree with his concluding sentence: “When we display these qualities, we help to prepare the non-Christian to take in the words of the gospel.” I believe it’s entirely the work of the Holy Spirit, in regard to the opening up, of a non-Christian’s heart to the truth of the gospel. These qualities of ethos and pathos are of greater importance in building up the Church to become ‘a more effective and caring community’ – to support and encourage new-Christians when they enters the Church (God’s Kingdom), after their encounter with the Holy Spirit.

What are your views?

One, great aspect of today’s study, is the material set for reading and meditation, these verses cannot be presented too many times – they are fantastic words, from which we can learn something of God’s character.

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 13:1-13 (NLT): “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.“