1 Corinthians 12:25-26. But that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. I am afraid that this second half of the verse refers to a duty which is more neglected than is the other. It is an easier thing to suffer with those that suffer than it is to rejoice with those that rejoice; and I will tell you why it is so; because, in giving compassion to those that suffer, you have some sense of dignity. Condescension is often a sort of pride; but when a brother is better off than you are,-when he has more talent than you have,-when he is more successful than you are,-for you to go and rejoice with him, and be as glad as if it were all your own gladness,-ay, to enter into his joy, and say, "God be thanked, my brother, for thy prosperity! I would increase it if I could, for I feel that I am a partner with you;"-ah! this needs great grace. So, may God give us more grace continually, and deliver us from everything like envy, which is of Satan, and yet is all too common even among professing Christians.
1 Corinthians 12:25-26. But that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. I am afraid that this second half of the verse refers to a duty which is more neglected than is the other. It is an easier thing to suffer with those that suffer than it is to rejoice with those that rejoice; and I will tell you why it is so; because, in giving compassion to those that suffer, you have some sense of dignity. Condescension is often a sort of pride; but when a brother is better off than you are,-when he has more talent than you have,-when he is more successful than you are,-for you to go and rejoice with him, and be as glad as if it were all your own gladness,-ay, to enter into his joy, and say, "God be thanked, my brother, for thy prosperity! I would increase it if I could, for I feel that I am a partner with you;"-ah! this needs great grace. So, may God give us more grace continually, and deliver us from everything like envy, which is of Satan, and yet is all too common even among professing Christians.