Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters (Romans 14:1).

I cannot tell you how much time I waste quarreling over disputable matters. When I was younger I mostly quarreled out loud, but with age I defer to my mind. Safer that way.

As a fresh staff member with Cru at Kansas State University, I remember wrangling over the pamphlet, 88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be In 1988. Then much longer disputes about the book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye (the author of which recently kissed his faith goodbye). Sometimes frustrated with students young in their walk with God, I crossed the line into quarreling more than once.

A few verses down the page Paul adds, Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister (14:13).

My quibbles with the various evangelical fads ebbing in and out of our ministry helped a few people—some ideas fail biblical scrutiny—but other times made students feel silly, or even dumb. Treating a sincere young believer, who’s trying to figure out her faith in this crazy world, to “four reasons why the book you hold in your hand comes from the pit” is just the sort of obstacle Paul refers to.

Thankfully, I’ve gotten better over the years. More patient, quicker to listen and slower to speak. I’ve watched the Holy Spirit move people far beyond what I might have accomplished with my arguments and counterpoints.

I’m still up for a good book discussion—but I hope to keep it a discussion, not a roast.

Romans 14 in week twenty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Jamie Street

A few summers ago a large aspen tree fell during a storm, crashing across a wooden fence and into our neighbor’s yard. I learned about the incident while on a trip to South Africa. Fortunately, two of my neighbors (one who owned a chainsaw), along with my son, cut up the tree and hauled it off. I benefited from a generous pair of neighbors (and a hard-working son).

Love does no harm to a neighbor (Romans 13:10).

Paul references both the words of Jesus and the book of Leviticus. I understand his thought in two ways. As a loving person, I simply avoid harming my neighbor. Or, in a slightly different take, I can’t go wrong by loving my neighbor. I create good will and better relationships.

After the tree affair, I flew home with fresh appreciation and good will toward my neighbors.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).

Thinking of neighbors, my acts that bring refreshment to them will return to me in refreshing ways. I prosper by cultivating generosity in my neighborhood.

Living among others—my neighbors—creates the laboratory where my faith either proves itself worthy, or deflates into hypocrisy.

My neighbors see my flaws from right across the lawn, and for the most part extend me grace. I hope I show them the same generosity. And when their tree comes down in a storm, I’ll get my gloves and go to work.

Week twenty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Terra Strickland

Perhaps visiting cemeteries over the past week brought this passage more to my eye this morning:

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow.

Take a deep breath. Let it out. That’s your life. Humbling, isn’t it?

I walk through a cemetery and think about all the past lives represented there—people’s hopes and dreams, good decisions and bad ones, marriages and divorces, triumphs and tragedies. But I recognize only a handful of names out of thousands. Their lives are gone, like fleeting shadows.

David, the author of this psalm, lived a long and notable life, yet even he understood that life passes like a breath.

The wonder of this psalm focuses on the fact that despite our shadow-nature, the Lord enters our lives. He delivers us and cares for us, and gives us all we hold dearly. David underscores our incredible privilege as the focus of the Lord’s goodness.

As a fleeting shadow, I’ll rest a bit in that good news.

Psalm 144 in week twenty-three of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Matthew Ansley