Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
When it comes to the family of God, what’s it all about? Does it all center around me and my concerns? Does it all center around taking and receiving and never giving and letting go? Is it foolish to be concerned about fellow believers and is it wise, therefore, to be unconcerned about them? Our verse for today has answers to such questions.
First of all, Christians should be like-minded. We should “live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:16). The first inclination of our hearts should be to get along with fellow believers on issues of doctrine and practice. Life in the body of Christ is much more than just getting one’s own way. No doubt, like-mindedness may not always be possible, for some may waver in their commitment. Nevertheless, it should be the goal that we strive for in life.
Second, we should be sympathetic. We should, that is, look with favor upon the needs and interests of our fellow believers. Our needs and interests may be different from theirs, but we should be sympathetic to them anyway. Life is much more than what we need and what interests us. Life without sympathy is cruel and harsh.
Third, we should love one another. “Love your neighbor as yourself,” of course, is the second greatest commandment and it applies to everyone (Mark 12:31). In our verse, however, the love of fellow believers is in view. We should love them as members of the same family of God. Peter says that we should “have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
Fourth, we should be compassionate. To be compassionate is to have deep sympathy and sorrow for those who are suffering in some way. Jesus was compassionate. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). Paul said we should “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) and he said, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
Finally, we should be humble. That is, we should not be proud and arrogant. “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble'” (1 Peter 5:5).
What’s it all about in the end? It is about building up the body of Christ in unity because, “to this you were called, so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).
