1 Thessalonians 5:12-24
There is a duty of warning others. We may not always speak words of commendation and approval. When persons are living in a disorderly way, that is, not in harmony with the divine laws, they are to be admonished. We must make sure, however, that we do this in the spirit of Christ, in love, in order to help and save those we admonish. No other duty requires more wisdom than that of telling others of their faults.
Then we should always be encouragers, for there are many timid, faint hearted people who continually need to be lifted up and helped onward. We should never be discouragers of others, but always encouragers. There are those, too, who are weak and need the strength and support which we can give them. The strong should help the weak. We should bear each other’s burdens. We are also to be long suffering to all, no matter how they may treat us. It is not easy, but we are not Christians if we are not trying to live after this law of love.
The teaching of Christ also requires us to render always good for evil, never evil for evil. This is a very practical counsel, and it is never easy to follow it. Yet it is an inseparable part of all Christina life. If one contends for the heroic in Christian character, nothing could be more heroic than this. To return love for hate, kindness for injury, is far braver than to be angry and resentful, demanding satisfaction. We should always follow that which is good, that is, we should think ever of the good of others and in all things make this our aim for them. Anything that would injure or harm another is absolutely un-Christian.
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