We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. Romans 15:1-2

As a conclusion to the weaker/stronger brother text, the Apostle Paul instructs on how we should live. In context, he teaches us how we should act towards our “neighbor.” It’s the Golden Rule within the book of Romans: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Bending over backwards on behalf of our neighbor is not always easy, is it? Our neighbors, i.e., those who we come into contact with throughout the day, don’t always behave the way we’d like. The knife cuts both ways because we don’t always act the way they want us to.

Today, as you consider these words, think of one thing you can do to encourage one person you are in regular contact with. A few weeks back I did something similar with a co-worker, someone I suspected “had everything together.” A third party with whom we both work, praised him, so I just relayed the message. He literally beamed and thanked me profusely for the kind words after I told him.

I give the example because we really never know how a small word of encouragement will do to someone, especially to someone you think has it all together. The “dirty little secret” is that most people only appear to have it all together.