Bible Study: Romans 15:2-Pleasing Our Neighbor

In Romans 15:2, Paul encourages "Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." Often, good leaders naturally like to please people. How can we best ensure that we are doing so for their good and to truly build them up?
 
 
   To understand the application of Romans 15:2, we must first understand the previous verse which states, “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." That phrase “obligation to bear with the failings of the weak” carries with it the whole moral of the story which is, to help or prevent the fall of another brother/sister. The same word “neighbor” used in verse two is the same type of reference used in Luke 10:36, which points out that this person is not just a worldly neighbor, but one who shares a common bond with us such as a fellow church member. Our “obligation” here is to remind our fellow brethren of the love of God in their life. We are to remind them of the grace and mercy of God which allowed them to be saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This “obligation to bear” carries with it a responsibility, not how we have seen modeled in the churches around our country today, but to walk with this fallen comrade through the trenches of their spiritual warfare and restoration.

   “Bearing” with the failings of our brothers and sisters requires us to have our walk with God in order. Our lecture mentions that, “Importantly for the Christian leader, each model must be approached with Christian ethics and a Christian worldview firmly in place.”[1] The same principles are required when dealing with the restoration of a fallen comrade or the assistance to avoid their fall. We must be rooted in the Word and live a lifestyle worthy of our testimony in order to assist others who have fallen.  The following verse two tells us to “please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." When we see this word in this context today, we assume that this means to make our neighbor happy or to satisfy them by their flesh desires.

​   I am sure our neighbor would be happy and pleased for us to throw them a backyard cookout. However, this is not the context in which this phrase is used in this verse. If our brother is having an issue with sexual immorality, throwing him a backyard cookout and inviting many friends to come over wouldn’t be the solution to his problem. This phrase is meaning to make them spiritually “pleased” by assisting them to get out of their backslidden state. In this context, to please him would sound something more like inviting him to a twice a week men’s Bible study focused on the topics of what it means to be a man for God’s will and purpose. Whatever the situation and your means of being a good “neighbor”, it should assist with restoring that person’s relationship with God and set a Christ-like example for them to follow.