Support Each Other in Christ

I want to begin today with the story of two figures from the Old Testament.  2 Kings tells the tale of two men with very similar names.  The first individual is named Elijah, and is an important prophet of God.  Some of you might remember that he was one of the few people to be taken directly to heaven without experiencing physical death; but more on that later.  The second figure is named Elisha (with an "sh"), and was a follower and disciple of the first man.  They went together everywhere, and Elijah was probably very accustomed to turning around and seeing his counterpart right there in the midst.  

A key element of this story is that it focuses on the notion that people on a Christian walk are often faced with difficult choices.  Our faith can require that we make uncomfortable sacrifices for what we believe.  Take a look at the last three years for example, and try to remember all of the decisions that you made regarding the contentious presidential election and the worldwide pandemic.  How many choices were made out of fear and anxiety versus a place of trust in God?

2 Kings 2 opens with this statement: "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel."  But Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."  So they went down to Bethel."   We see here that Elijah's disciple refused to leave him, even when asked to do so by his master.  This trope is mentioned no less than three times in 2 Kings.  There is even a point when the two men arrive in a town where an entire company of other prophets tells Elisha that soon God will take his master from him up to heaven.  His response is as follows: "Yes I know, but do not speak of it!"

Time and time again, we see this repeating example of Elisha refusing to listen or accept what is going to happen.  Now doubtless some have preached a sermon about these two people and presented this behavior as endearing.  'Look, he is refusing to leave his master's side' they might say.  But I want to take a different approach.  It seems to me, that Elisha would have been better served to obey his teacher, and to listen to the other prophets.  In this manner, I think he would have better supported God's call by staying behind and strengthening his home church.  But instead, Elisha allowed his fear and anxiety to come first and ignored Elijah's command to stay home.    

In fact, I believe that this refusal to listen displayed a marked lack of trust in God's overall plan.  And this very place is where we find ourselves so often today.  Can we get our own ego and preferences out of the way long enough to let God work?  Are we upholding preference or purpose, when it comes to our local church?  Are we listening to our own opinion only, or do we let "other prophets" speak wisdom into our lives?  

Stubborness will get you only so far.  At some point, we need to actually trust God and follow His will for ourselves and our families.  Mind you no one likes to be corrected, and even less so when God has to step in and provide drastic (or public) correction.  

So the question becomes 'how do we support each other as Christians, so as to follow God's wisdom and not just our own opinion?'  How do we become a respectful Jesus follower who listens to our leader and master, instead of propagating a stubborn indifference.  

Every pastor and church leader has at least one story of a difficult congregant who simply wouldn't budge.  Maybe they complained about the direction of the church, or the way the administrative board spends money.  Perhaps they didn't listen to the pastor's leadership or wouldn't come under submission to his vision and mission.  Whatever the problem is, I think it's an example of Elijah and Elisha.  Well meaning as we often are, sometimes we just need to listen and follow.

What are some practical ways that we can support each other in Christ by listening to God?  Let's look as some Scriptures.  Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Furthermore, Galatians 5:13 says, "You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love."  

When was the last time you served one another in love, without an ulterior motive?  It's a matter of choosing God's purpose over and above our own preference.  This takes a lifetime of sanctification and repentance.  The never ending job of beating down our own ego, while lifting up God's plan for a community or a church is serious business - and precious few have mastered it.  

When we lack trust in God's providence, we tend to stop listening.  We stop listening to His still, small voice, and we can stop listening to other Christians around us who are just trying to help keep us between the rails.  Elijah the prophet learned to listen to God, and his reward was to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind - never having to taste the sting of mortality.  It's better to listen I think.  

If you aren't a good spiritual listener, don't take it personally.  We all struggle with pride and strong opinions.  Sometimes in fact, we even couch our own opinions by backing them with Scripture out of context.  A great many false prophets and bad teachers have used the Bible as a weapon instead of a shield.  But the main point here I believe, is that by listening to God and His people, we can become more supportive of the Christian walk in general.  We can learn to support each other when making difficult decisions based on faith and trust.  We learn to obey our master's authority.  

Take a moment now and think about the Christians in your life who have made a difference.  Some may be pastors, deacons, or church leaders.  Maybe some are simply prayer warriors - destined to lift others up in spiritual grace.  But whoever they are, I'm betting they listen to God and follow what He says on a regular basis.  It all goes smoother when we listen.  

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