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A fundamental principle in medical ethics is to “do no harm.” According to the Bible, this is also an ethical principle that Christians should live by. In our last week of the “One Another” series, we are going to look at a list of actions to take (or, to not take) to make sure that we are not hurting each other, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
Do not plot evil against each other
The primary battle in this world is the battle between good and evil. As Christians, we should be actively doing good to each other, as we’ve discussed in the previous several lessons, rather than actively trying to harm each other.
Zechariah 7:9-10: 9 “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’”
Zechariah 8:16-17: 16 “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.
Do not provoke and envy each other
One example of plotting evil against each other is to provoke each other, which could mean provoking each other to anger or to act in ways that are contrary to God’s will. Envy and conceit are often emotions that causes us to provoke one another or plot evil against others, so we should do our best to avoid those feelings toward others.
Galatians 5:26: Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Do not lie to each other
Another way we can harm others is to lie to each other. Saying words that are not truthful often end up making a situation worse rather than better. Instead, we should speak the truth to each other in love.
Colossians 3:8-10: 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Do not slander each other
To go along with lying to each other, we should also not lie about each other. Slander is saying something false about someone to other people in order to harm that person’s reputation or to get people to turn against that person. The Bible tells us we are not to judge other people; we are to leave that to God. More on judgment later.
James 4:11-12: 11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Do not grumble about each other
Whereas slander is saying something false about a person, grumbling about another person may be something truthful, but it is still hurtful. If we have a complaint against someone else, we should talk to that person to resolve the issue. We shouldn’t just complain about that person to everyone we talk to.
James 5:9: Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Do not pass judgment on one another
The verses about slander and grumbling refer to judgment. In order to come up with something to say that is slander or grumbling, that means we first had to make a judgment about that person. As Christians, we should leave the judgment up to God. He is the one to whom we will have to give an account of our lives, so we should live in a way that doesn’t put any barriers up for others coming to believe in him.
Romans 14:12-13: 12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Do not take advantage of each other
Many parts of life are transactional. I do this for you, and you do that for me. In these transactions, the Bible tells us that we are not to take advantage of each other. Don’t try to get all you can from someone else without giving something in return. Don’t try to get something more than whatever the act is worth. Instead, be fair in all you do.
Leviticus 25:14-17: 14 “‘If you sell land to any of your own people or buy land from them, do not take advantage of each other. 15 You are to buy from your own people on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. And they are to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. 16 When the years are many, you are to increase the price, and when the years are few, you are to decrease the price, because what is really being sold to you is the number of crops. 17 Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God.
What we should do instead
We’ve looked at several “do not” commands—do not plot evil, do not lie or slander, do not pass judgment, and others. If we do plot evil, or lie or slander, or pass judgment, or provoke each other, it implies an underlying feeling of animosity or envy or hate against another person. These attitudes are sinful, and if we have a problem with another person because of their actions toward us or others, then what we should do instead is to forgive each other.
Colossians 3:13: Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Sometimes, the fault is ours. Maybe we’ve done something to create bad feelings between ourselves and others. If this is the case, we should confess our sins and pray together so that we can be healed.
James 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Do not deprive each other
One last word that is a bit in a different vein than the other “do not” commands. This one is specifically for husbands and wives. The Bible tells us that husbands and wives should not deprive each other of sexual intimacy except by mutual consent and only for a limited time. Often, we withhold sexual intimacy from our spouse because of our mood, hurt feelings, tiredness, busyness, or spite. The Bible tells us that this is not the way sexual intimacy should work between husband and wife. If this goes on too long, then it can lead to affairs, divorce, or isolation.
1 Corinthians 7:2-5: 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Conclusion
Thank you for coming along on this journey with me as we look at the “one another” commands that give us guidance on how to interact with other people. Our actions should first and foremost come from a place of love and compassion for other people. This prompts us to be kind, to speak truth rather than lies, to do good rather than evil, to worship and grow in our faith together, to encourage each other rather than grumble about each other, to serve and support one another rather than taking advantage of others, and to live peacefully with each other rather than provoking others. If we follow these commands, then we will clear the way of any stumbling blocks or barriers for others coming to know Christ as their Savior. That is the purpose of the Christian life.