Key Verse: Romans 15:2 

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” 

In the gospel of Luke someone asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered this question by sharing the parable of the Good Samaritan. By sharing this parable Jesus was teaching that everyone is our neighbor and that we should be willing to help anyone and everyone regardless of wealth, race, or convenience. Here in Romans 15:2 Paul gives us the primary reason to help and please people. The reason we should aim to please our neighbor according to Paul is for the good of our neighbor.  Now there are many people today who like pleasing others in order to benefit themselves. They are commonly called ‘brown nosers,’ or ‘butt kissers.’ There goal in pleasing others is not for the good of their neighbor, but rather for their own good. They seek to please their neighbor to get something from them. Maybe it is money, a gift, an invite to the party, or even getting your kid a spot on the team. These should never be the reason we seek to please others. The reason is for their own good. What is the good that Paul has in mind? 

Paul is thinking of their edification. This could mean one of two things, or it could mean both of them. There is a chance that Paul has church unity in mind. We should seek to please our fellow Christians in the church in hopes to promote unity. If we are all seeking to please one another we will all be pleased and be unified. Second, Paul could have in mind the edification of the individual’s spiritual life. If we are pleasing someone else by serving them and loving them It can help them grow in their faith by seeing that we are all called to serve one another. Today, go and look for an opportunity to please your neighbor, but make sure you do it for their benefit not your own!!