A Code of Christian Conduct: Rule #1—Build Each Other Up
Christianity was never meant to be lived in isolation. We should seek to strengthen ourselves in the Lord and we should actively strengthen one another in the Lord.
This isn’t a one or the other proposition, these two ideas work together for the good of the individual and for the good of the whole body of Christ - and in so strengthening the whole body, it strengthens us individually.
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Without the strength of my legs, back, and abdomen, my arms are substantially weaker. The point and undeniable truth is this: The church is built and made stronger when each member receives edification and gives it freely because this this both strengthens the individual and the church as a whole. The stronger the one, the stronger the other.
This truth is illustrated mathematically in the movie “A Beautiful Mind” which tells the story of the brilliant mathematician John Nash. Nash challenged the idea in Adam Smith’s book “Wealth of Nations,” that the people as a whole are best served when each person acts purely in his own self-interest. Instead, Nash was able to demonstrate mathematically that people are actually better off when each person consider what is both good for themselves and good for the group. We see this principal carry forward in economics as well because it is in the best interest of both the producer in consumer to acquire value. Both producer and consumer should offer honesty and integrity to each other to ensure everything from sound prices, quality, products, and the propagation of economic and industrial progress
This principal mirrors, Paul’s instruction perfectly. The body of Christ grows strong, not when each believer focuses only on his own spiritual life, but when we invest in one another by encouraging, comforting, correcting, and building up those around us. When we do this, we’ll soon realize that edifying the brothers and sisters around us is far more important to our own greater spiritual growth than we might have otherwise realized.