NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

Read Romans 14.

“No man is an island,” said John Donne, the seventeenth century English poet and preacher. He was reflecting the Biblical concept that who we are and what we do does not merely affect ourselves, but others around us.  Paul put it this way, “For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.” (Rom.14:7‬).

And to this end, we are accountable to God in life and in death.  There will be a Day of Judgment, where we will be evaluated as to the impact our life has had for Christ.  “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (v.8-12‬ ).

The implications for our earthly activity since Jesus is Lord cannot be underestimated.  In every dimension of this life we are responsible to Him—and how we live for Him is in relation to how we live among others.  Likewise, the implications for our eternal accountability before Jesus as Lord cannot be overstated.  In each area of our life we will answer to Him—and He will judge how we have judged the worth of others.

The Apostle begins the chapter by discussing the debates among the saints over sacred days and special diets, that were leading people to judge one another.  Some, with a sensitive conscience were assailing the liberty of their brothers who felt a greater freedom in the “gray areas,” of life, while those who promoted freedom were attacking their brethren whom they thought legalistic, by flaunting their liberty.  Paul concludes with a call to love—to respect one another and commit them to God.  The final judgment is up to the only One qualified to make it—Almighty God.   “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” (v.13‬).