Therefore we should pursue the things of peace and the things by which we build up one another.
Truth to Learn
We must deny ourselves in order to serve God and others.
Behind the Words
Just as in verse twelve, Paul starts off this verse with ara oun, which means “so in conclusion.”
Some translations start this verse out with “Let us pursue.” This is translated from diōkō, which means “to pursue” in a good sense and “to persecute” in a bad sense. It means “to constantly go after something.” The presence of “let” in the English makes it sound like a command (imperative mood) but it is expressed in the subjunctive mood. So it is more accurately translated “Therefore we should pursue …”
The word translated “build up” is oikodomē, which refers to “the process of building something.”
Meaning Explained
Since his previous conclusion (verses fourteen and fifteen), Paul has told us, “If you insist on having your own way, you may cause your brother to stumble, you will not be walking according to love, what you consider good will be spoken evil of, you will not be pursuing God’s glory, and you will not please God or man.” “In conclusion,” he says, “instead of all that, we should pursue the things that produce peace and that build-up one another.”
What Paul has had to say to us in these past five verses seems a bit harsh, especially when you consider that we all have times when our sin nature takes over and controls our thoughts and actions. But even the best of Christians has these spiritual ups and downs. I was reminded recently about the Apostle Peter’s interactions with Jesus in Matthew chapter sixteen. When Jesus asks the disciples who people say He is, they respond with, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (Matthew 16:14)
But when He asks the disciples who they say He is, Peter is quick to reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." In response, Jesus proclaims Peter to be blessed.
A short time later, Jesus begins to explain to his disciples that He must suffer many things, be killed, and be raised from the dead. Upon hearing this, Peter takes the Lord aside and begins to rebuke Him. (I’m sure none of us has ever yelled at God, have we?) J At this point our Lord says to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:23)
Imagine having the Son of God say that you are an offense to Him! Then Jesus says to them all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
That’s precisely what Paul has been teaching us in this passage of Scripture. We need to deny self and treat other Christians and our Lord as more important than we are.
Application
Once again, we see that a close walk with our God is largely a matter of where our focus it. If we are focused on ourselves and seeking to satisfy our own desires, we will stray from God because we aren’t watching where we’re going. But if our focus is on Him, then we will be following in His footsteps, and serving God and fellow Christians becomes our constant objective. Is it time for another focus check?
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved