Daily Updates

ARE YOU ‘HIGH MAINTENANCE’?

A blessing enjoyed in Christ is support from brethren in times of spiritual crisis. Those who are strong are to support the weak (Ro. 15:1)We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.Those who are spiritual are to help those overcome in a fault (Gal. 6:1). It is part of the "law of Christ" to thus bear one another’s burdens (Gal.6:2).Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

At the same time we have a responsibility to become strong. Each Christian has a responsibility to "bear his own load" (Gal. 6:4-5)..But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. We will be accountable for our own actions (Rom. 14:12).So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. It is thus our responsibility to pick ourselves up as well. (Heb. 12:12-13).Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Some Christians never seem to progress from being supported to supporting themselves. They remain very dependent upon their brethren. Unless constantly nurtured by brethren, they fall away or become apathetic. Such brethren are what might be described in the vernacular as "high maintenance".

Are you "high maintenance"? In everyday life this means someone or thing which requires a lot of attention. Christians who are high maintenance require a lot of attention in order to remain faithful. They require a lot of coddling or pampering to be active Christians, attending and working in the church only when constantly prodded.

Even churches can be high maintenance. The church in Corinth certainly was (I Cor. 3:1-4, 2 Cor. 12-20-21).And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. The church in Phillipi was not. (Phil. 1;3-7)I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. High maintenance is crucial for the newborn Christian, who is new in the faith and very susceptible. Without proper attention, they may soon be overcome. High maintenance is essential for the hurting Christian, whether it be physical illness, or emotional turmoil.(I Thess. 5:14)

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. We can overcome high maintenance by individual growth. When we study and grow strong we will no longer need it, when we can become the providers, not the recipients. Consider the unfortunate case of the Hebrew Christians (Heb. 5:12-14)For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Strength from our brethren is certainly helpful when we need it, but we should also reach a point where our strength comes from God. And we can become the producers, not just the consumers. Consider the remarkable example of the apostle Paul Phil 4:11-13; Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ[who strengthens me. (2 Cor. 1:3–6) since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified