that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may have need of nothing.
Truth to Learn
There is a key to receiving everything that we need in life.
Behind the Words
The word “that” is from the Greek conjunction hina, which means “so that” or “in order that.”
“You may walk” is translated from the verb peripateō. This word is composed of peri, meaning “around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” Paul uses this word frequently to express “the manner in which we live our lives.” It is expressed here in the present tense, subjunctive mood indicating the possibility of such action as an ongoing event.
The word “properly” is from the Greek adverb euschēmonōs. This word is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of schema, which refers to “the external form or appearance of something.” Thus, euschēmonōs means “in good form” or “in the proper manner.”
Exō is the word translated “outside.” It is derived from the preposition ek, meaning “out” or “out of.” It is a reference here to those who are outside the church, that is, non-Christians.
The words “have need of” are translated from the Greek word chreian, which specifically refers to “a debt.” As used here, it refers to a lack of something or to have need of something.
“Nothing” is from the Greek word mēdeis. This is a double compound word made up of mē, meaning “not,” de, meaning “and, but, or even,” and eis, meaning “one.” When we put these all together we find that mēdeis means “not even one (thing)” or “nothing.”
Meaning Explained
Today’s verse begins with a conjunction (hina) meaning “so that.” Whenever a verse begins with a conjunction, we have to look back to see what it is joining the current verse to. In this case, we have to look back to the end of verse ten, “But we urge you, brothers, that you increase more and more;” and, in order to know what it is that has to be increased, we have to look back at verse nine. It says, “…concerning brotherly love …” In other words, one of the reasons that we have to greatly increase our love for others more and more is “so that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
In yesterday’s verse we learned the first reason that we need to increase our brotherly love. It is so that we can keep from crossing the line to meddling and instead lead a quiet life, mind our own business, and work hard at whatever task we have been given to do. Now Paul teaches us that another reason for increasing our love more and more is so that it will guide our footsteps in life. If we continue to focus on being more loving, showing genuine brotherly love to others, it will continue to instill a habit in us regarding the proper way to live. Notice that this is not just to our brothers and sisters in Christ; by developing the habit of brotherly love, we will act the way God wants us to toward those who are outside the church as well.
Paul also tells us that if we develop the habit of showing genuine brotherly love to all people, we will have all our needs met; we will be lacking in not even one thing.
Application
God never promises us that we will have everything we want, but He does promise us that we will have everything we need if we learn to show genuine brotherly love to all people.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved