Reader Blog

God’s Commandments

Caring for the edification of others is not an option, but God’s command, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24), so it is a sin if you and I seek to do what we like regardless of God, His Word and the edification of others. “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Corinthians 14:26), and “all things” here are without exception. It is a sin if what you and I have said or done has not edified others or built them up in the faith in God
and God’s Word. “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is God’s command here for you and me to “edify one another,” even literally, “keep on edifying one another.” “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Thus, God commands you and me to care for others to edify them in all things whatsoever we say or do. Do you and I carefully keep God’s commandments?

Do All Things for Others’ Edification

Doing all things for others’ edification is doing God’s command and following our Lord Jesus’ example “for even Christ pleased not himself” (Romans 15:3), and so did Paul, “we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying” (2 Corinthians 12:19). What about you and me? Do you and I really build others up in their faith in God and in God’s Word in whatever we say, write, preach, teach and do? It is enough for human sinful and sceptical nature to doubt God’s Word, and it is enough for Satan to cause them to doubt God’s Word! Sadly, many so-called “Christian leaders” and “scholars” are helping Satan and human sinful nature to cast doubt on God’s Word through their unbelief, textual criticism, and human methods to examine and determine God’s Word without faith or reverence! They have violated God’s command to do all things for others’ edification! It is serious as they will have to answer to God for what they have said and done. Then, how can you and I do all things for others’ edification? You and I have to deal with our own “self” first by the cross of Christ and then care for the edification of others by the love of Christ.

Die to Self and Let Christ Live in Us: Our Lord Jesus “Christ pleased not himself” (Romans 15:3), but “humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8), so you and I must do the same. Jesus still challenges you and me, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Paul died to his “self” and let Christ live in him, saying, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). What about you and me? There should be no more “I will” or “I like” or “I want,” but “God wills, God pleases and God wants” for the edification of others.

Let the Love of Christ Constrain Us: Without Christ’s love, you and I shall not be able to do God’s commandments willingly with joy. Truly, if you and I love someone, we are able to restrain ourselves from saying or doing something that might hurt them, and we are able to do something to build them up in their faith in God and God’s Word. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead” (2 Corinthians 5:14). Are you and I constrained by Christ’s love? It is not man-made love, but Christ’s love, the very love that compelled Him to humble Himself and come into this cursed and sinful world to die for mankind, including you and me! You and I really need Christ and His love so as “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). We should not forget that it is also God’s command for you and me to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31), and “Let all your things be done with charity (love)” (1 Corinthians 16:14), and “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthains 8:1), and “seeketh not her own” (1 Corinthians 13:5).