Look At the Interest of Others - Romans 12

Romans 12:15 (ESV)

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

But what if you don’t feel like rejoicing?  What if you feel like rejoicing and don’t feel like weeping?   The above admonishing from Paul follows something he stated to the church at Corinth, years before.  Note:

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (ESV)

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Paul is writing to the Roman Christians in chapter 12 and he wants them to take similar posture when it comes to living with others.  In the Corinthian passage it was more about the nonbeliever.  In this Roman passage it is more about their fellow believer.  The theme is the same.  We are not to promote ourselves and look at our own interest, but rather the interest of others.  Paul said something similar to the church at Philippi:

Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This is the Christian way.  We are not to seek our own, but seek what is best for our fellow believers.   That is Chrisitanity.