Associations

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. – Romans 12.15-16

Rejoice when people rejoice
Weep when people weep
Have the same mind
Do not set your mind on the higher things in the world
Associate with those who are humble
Don’t base your wisdom on your own opinions

Wow! There’s a lot there.

One phrase is sticking out to me today – it is that phrase ‘associate with the humble.’ We are like to rub shoulders with the high and mighty. We like to drop names and talk about the famous people we have met. Somehow it gives us a view that we are kind of special. People crowd stadiums or public appearance of the well known. We want to sit at the head table with the important people.

Here though we read that God wants us to associate with the humble, not the mighty or proud or well known. We are to seek out those who need us. We seek out the less fortunate and those who seemingly have nothing to offer us. We learn to see the people Jesus saw and see them the way that He saw them.

This whole section of Romans has one theme – putting others before us. That’s not the norm and never has been. How we treat the less fortunate is a real sign of how we walk with Jesus.