"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens [develops and molds the character of] another" (Proverbs 27:17). We are greatly affected by those around us. Not just our moods and actions, but our actual character is molded by those with whom we choose to spend our time. We have heard that "birds of a feather flock together"--a clever proverb that is backed by the Bible. "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character" (I Cor. 15:33), but
2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.
2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Paul writes: "I long to see you [Christians in Rome] so that I may impart some spiritual gift to make you strong--that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Romans 1:12-13).
We need one another. We are an army, or maybe more appropriately, a team, assembled by God to defeat the enemy of our souls. Although certain team members may rise to repute from time to time, some names may be more memorable, no one wins the victory alone, and we are upheld by the gifts and common purpose of one another. Where one is weak, another is strong, and we have been called together and equipped to compliment each other.
King David assembled a team of "mighty men" to serve and protect the nation of Israel as chronicled in II Samuel 23 and I Chronicles 11. One of my favorites is Beniah.
11:22 And Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.
11:23 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam; but Benai'ah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
11:24 These things did Benai'ah the son of Jehoi'ada, and won a name beside the three mighty men.
11:25 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
Beniah sort of reminds me of George Teague in the January '93 Sugarbowl against Miami. He was one member of the team, but he was able to "snatch the spear out of the Egyptians hand" and deflate the ego of the Hurricanes. Well, the "spear" was actually a football, but maybe you catch my drift. It was a superior moment for Teague, but the whole Tide won the National Championship. Just as Gene Stallings had assembled a team, and just as David assembled a team, so God has assembled a team for every age of this world. Beniah, David, Paul, Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, Billy Graham, you, I, are all a part of God's team, and we are instructed to encourage one another:
4:7 But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.
4:9 (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?
4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
4:11 And he gave some `to be' apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
4:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Heavely Father, make me a commited member of "Team Jesus," that I may train daily, working out my spiritual muscles, studying your spiritual strategies, and working in accord with my team members to bring about many victories for Your Kingdom. Amen
1:12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
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