Unlimited: Associate With People Of Low Position

Unlimited: Associate with People of Low Position

Aug 15, 2023 420

but be willing to associate with people of low position (Romans 12:16c).

Paul’s society was one in which the principles of a strict social hierarchy applied in every social interaction. You tried your best to not associate with people of a lower position than yours. To associate with people of low position was to be one of them. Instead, you tried to associate with people of a higher position than yours, so that you would share in their honour.

However, the teachings of Jesus completely overturned this principle. He taught that those who were truly privileged were not the powerful, the rich, and the prosperous, but instead,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matt. 5:3,5.)

How willing are you to associate with people of low position?

The great example of how to relate to those of low position is that of Jesus himself. Paul taught,

…in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant… (Phil. 2:3–7.)

We are to relate to others as Jesus has related to us.

Spiritual Application

How willing are you, really, to associate with people of low position? No matter how high or low your position, there’s always someone “lower” than you, according to the warped thinking of the world. Do what the Bible says and associate with them! Invite some such person to lunch or dinner and get to know them.

– Eliezer Gonzalez

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