by David Phillips
In the course of a recent work day, I pulled into a parking lot to fill out some paperwork. At a distance, I saw an elderly couple making their way out of a store. The man and woman both appeared to be somewhat feeble, and as they slowly shuffled through the parking lot, I couldn’t tell for sure if he was helping her or if she was helping him. It was only when they reached their car and she helped him painstakingly get seated into the passenger’s side that I could see that she was the stronger.
As the lady drove away with her very dependent mate, I knew I’d witnessed a great illustration of an everyday spiritual reality: often leading and following are not nearly as distinct from one another as they should be.
God’s word weighs in on this issue with clear instruction: Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom.15:1). Galatians 6:1 places a great deal of responsibility on those whom Paul refers to as …ye who are spiritual… in the matter of restoring the erring. In 1 Thes.5:14 we are told to …encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.
Though some may never regard themselves as “church leaders”, every Christian has a duty to help and strengthen and LEAD those around us who are weaker in the faith or who perhaps have no faith at all. Obviously, this requires strength on our part. So, are you LEADING or LEANING? Or are you so firmly planted in the middle that no one can tell the difference?