Our Duty To One Another

Richard Thetford

Problems that occur in any local congregation would never happen if everyone would put into practice what the scriptures teach concerning our "duty to one another". Jesus summed it all up when he stated "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the prophets" (Matt 7:12). If every Christian would practice this then there would not be problems because no one wants to be mistreated in any way. But that is not all that is written on this subject. The Bible is full of scripture letting man know how he should act towards one another. Many are specific and some are generic. I will take a few moments here to list several of our duties that are spelled out in God's Holy Word. We should not lie to one another (Col 3:9), not to be consumed by one another by way of biting and devouring each other (Gal 5:15), we are not to murmur (Jam 5:9), not to envy (Gal 5:26), and not to judge one another (Rom 14:13). Those were some things we are told "not" to do and here are some things we should practice toward one another. Exhortation (Heb 10:25), edification (Rom 14:19), love (1 John 4:7), consideration (Heb 10:24), comfort one another (1 Thes 4:18), submit (Eph 5:21), forbear (Col 3:13), be kind (Eph 4:32), forgive (Col 3:13), receive (Rom 15:7), bear each others burdens (Gal 6:2), care (1 Cor 12:25) and to serve one another (Gal 5:13). These are but a few, but if we practiced these things in our duty to one another then we would consistently walk in unity!