I can talk about how we pulled together to help provide 500 families in our community with Thanksgiving turkeys and they all applaud. I can talk about God’s Word or matters of doctrine and theology and their response is varied. I know people from a wide variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and lifestyles. Is there some action, some “good” that we can engage in that is perceived by the vast majority of people as “good?” I believe there is. (James Montgomery Boice, Romans: Volume 4. We are to be known as those who always pursue the very best in all areas. So when Paul told the Romans that they were to ‘be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody,’ he was saying that Christians are to lead the way in good or right things, and they are to do this always. The point is that this is what all people should aim at. But if we are working in the area of aesthetics, the ‘good’ that we are pursuing becomes, ‘the beautiful.’ In philosophy it is ‘the truth.’ If we are thinking of morals, it is what is ‘right.’ If we are thinking of character, it is what is ‘honorable.’ Usually we think of this goal as ‘the good,’ which Plato proposed as the right pursuit of all rational beings. The way to understand kalos is to know that it was the word used by the Greek philosophers, especially Plato, to describe the goal of sound thinking. James Montgomery Boice gives us some background on the word. It doesn’t matter if what we are doing is right in the eyes of people or not as long as it is right by God’s standard. Paul says, “Be careful to do what is right.” The Greek word translated, “right,” is “kalos” and it means, “beautiful, excellent in its nature and characteristics, good, admirable, or beautiful to look at.” This verse throws many of the followers of Jesus for a loop because we know that we are only to do what is “right” in the eyes of God. The fifth roadside marker: We are to be careful to do what is right in the eyes of others. We will begin our study today by taking a look at the second sentence in verse 17. The first part of this verse was covered in our last lesson. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
Today we will cover the last four roadside markers, reminders to us of the life we are to live and how we are to relate to those who oppose us, those who consider us as “enemies.” Take a look at verse 17 with me.ġ7 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. We are not to be proud, but we are to associate with those who hold no position in society, those who are forgotten and considered as unimportant. We are to live in harmony with one another.ģ.
We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.Ģ. We covered the first four in our last study. In Romans 12:14-21, Paul gives us 8 roadside markers to chart our course, to give us guidance as we relate to those who oppose us or those who oppose the cause of Christ. Beginning in Romans 12:14, Paul turns his attention to those who persecute us, those who do “evil,” those who would consider themselves to be our enemies. If you will remember, in the first section of Romans 12 Paul gave us some great guidance about how we are to relate to our brothers and sisters in Christ–this includes those that we may not be naturally drawn to as well as those that get on our last nerve. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge I will repay,” says the Lord. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice mourn with those who mourn. Turn with me to Romans 12:14-21 and let’s begin.ġ4 Bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse. Today we are going to finish our study, “Bless Who?” Let’s read our Scripture together.
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