Romans – A Treatise
Chapter Twelve
PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN LIVING
Scripture Reading: verse 10 (Darby translation)
In view of our own imperfection, these exhortations in verse 10 are humbling. All we can do is meditate on them and in some measure seek sincerely to apply them to our daily lives. Christianity has become a matter of so much preaching and so little genuine conduct that the testimony of our Savior suffers grievously. It is surely the Lord’s mind that all of His people endeavor to show what great things God has done for them. They can only show this in their behavior.
The Darby translation of Romans 12 is accurate, yet so picturesque: “As to honor, each taking the lead in paying it to the other.”1 What wonderful gatherings we would have if the Lord’s people behaved in this manner. Instead of seeking to cover self with glory, we should endeavor to pay honor to one another, as this translation says, “each one taking the lead in paying it to the other.” This is true leadership and calls for the deepest humility, yet it is the high standard which God sets before us.
We should not confuse this with Satan’s counterfeit. Sad to say, it is not unfrequent today for a Christian brother to “play up” to some particular person in order to gain personal distinction or advantage. That is unworthy of any Christian, yet it is exceedingly common. We live in a time of the so-called “yes-man” among God’s people. There are those among us who seek out influential brethren in the church; always careful to be diplomatic so they will receive their graces, no matter how ruthlessly the influential brother may treat those he thinks are beneath him. This presents a grievous attitude of present-day church life in too many locations. Too many have become elders by climbing the ladder of religious distinction, always careful to say “yes” to the right people or person at the right time. This injunction which Paul gives us is totally contrary to that. It includes all of God’s people, “as to honor, each taking the lead in paying it to the other.” It is that spontaneous grace in the Christian heart that honors our fellow believers without any regard to their social or economic distinction, without any regard to their political power. It is the “over-agreeable yes-men” in our religious life, as well as in every other sphere, that are ruining institutions today.
Thoughtful and intelligent people will not allow a dictator to rise to power unless there is a social and political parasites bolstering him up by praising his genius and playing up to his every whim, until he becomes a power. Just as it is in the political realm, so it is in our church life. Individuals who have proud personal ambitions are always careful to gather around themselves people who will say “yes” to their every move and who will support them, especially in positions in which they are totally incapable. Thus we have dishonorable people put in honorable positions, and thus the people of God suffer irreparable loss. “In honor preferring one another,” or as the better translation says, “as to honor, each taking the lead in paying it to the other,” should be a general characteristic of God’s people.
The first clause of verse 11 in the common version is rather misleading. It says, “not slothful in business,” and some Christians have used this exhortation to excuse themselves for relentlessly absorbing their whole life in business pursuits, to the neglect of their spiritual welfare. A better translation is, “as to diligent zealousness, not slothful” or “in diligence not slothful.” The application is to every department of our lives. It does not excuse or exhort us to live a life devoted to the pursuit of money, as some have interpreted it. The meaning is this: in every endeavor the Christian should be zealous and not slothful. To the housewife at home, attending to her various duties which often become monotonous and humdrum, the exhortation is, “as to diligent zealousness, not slothful.”
Regarding business life, it also has its application; not that our whole spirit, soul and body should be absorbed in the pursuit of making money, but rather that the duties to which we put our hand as business people, whether it be in the office or in the shop, should be done with creditable skill and true zeal. With regard to our church life in our service among God’s people, whether in ministry of the Word; helping to bear the burdens of the weak and suffering; sharing in the joys and sorrows of one another; or presenting Christ as the Savior to those around us, our every movement should be characterized by diligent zealousness and not slothfulness.
Then Paul says, “in spirit fervent, serving the Lord.” The Christian should be a unique person of fervent spirit. The real meaning of the Greek word that is used for the word fervent is “boiling over.” There should be a spontaneous enthusiasm on the part of Christians in the zest of life. In Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. God has crowned our lives with everlasting benefits, and we should have this attitude of enthusiasm. It will not simply be shouting hallelujahs and singing choruses. It will express itself far beyond that; it will be an enthusiasm of service, first to the Lord according to His direction, and then toward those around us in the Name of Christ – “fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord.”
