By Roy Ciampa, Ph. D.
Armstrong Chair of Religion, Samford University
HONOR YOUR NEIGHBOR
Romans 12:9–21
Most of Romans 1–11 focuses on what God has done for us in Christ. Chapter 12 emphasizes the practical ways in which our new lives are to reflect Christ and His character. Paul provides an extended list of instructions that reflect what it means to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Honor others by seeking their best. (9–13)
Our relationships with others must be marked by authenticity and integrity rather than hypocrisy. Most of the commands Paul gives here have to do with promoting the well-being of those around us: practicing love and goodness and showing honor, diligently and fervently serving the Lord (presumably in service to those around us) and living with patience (even when afflicted), prayerfulness, generosity and hospitality. We serve the Lord best when we honor others and seek the best for those around us.
Honor others over honoring yourself. (14–16)
Christ showed what it is to “bless those who persecute you” when He prayed for those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). He rejoiced with those who rejoiced at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1–10), and He wept with those who wept at the news of the death of Lazarus (John 11:32–35). He sought to live in harmony (although that was not and is not always possible), and He demonstrated humility throughout His ministry, spending time with the marginalized, those who were outcasts and those rejected as sinners. He demonstrated humility in His willingness to give up the prerogative of glory, take on human flesh and die on a cross for our salvation (Phil. 2:3–8).
When we remember that Christ associates with us, we realize how foolish it would be for us to be too proud to associate with those more humble than ourselves or for us to become wise in our own eyes. We rejoice with our neighbors in their moments of joy and empathize with them in their times of sorrow (even if the cause for their weeping may be partly a result of their failings, just as our own causes for weeping can be partly a result of our failings).
We empathize with them in their times of joy and pain as we would want them to do with us in our times of joy or sorrow. Although we will never do so perfectly, Christ’s example of honoring others over honoring oneself remains the model we seek to emulate by the grace of God.
Honor others through peaceful relationships. (17–21)
Paul reminds us honoring Christ requires behavior that directly contradicts our fallen human nature. As sinful beings we are naturally tempted to repay wrong with wrong, evil with evil. When there is conflict around us, our natural inclination is often to choose sides and enter the fray rather than seeking to live at peace with all whenever possible.
Following Christ means seeking to do what is right and honorable in the eyes of others whenever obedience to God does not require otherwise. We are called to trust God to eventually establish justice, leaving all vengeance and recompense to Him, as Christ Himself demonstrated on the cross.
Following Christ calls for Christlike behavior that turns our fallen tendencies on their head so we show mercy to our enemies and meet their basic needs when we can, as Christ has done for us. Doing so might even lead them to become ashamed of their unloving behavior (the probable meaning of “heaping fiery coals on his head”).
Christ was not conquered by evil but conquered evil with good when He gave Himself up for us on the cross. We are to do the same. We are conquered by evil only if we are seduced by the temptation to advance our agendas by ungodly means. We conquer evil with good by remaining faithful to our calling to exemplify the grace and righteousness of Christ rather than lowering ourselves to the standards of the world.
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