Build Up One Another
Build Up One Another.
“Edify one another, just as you have already been doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Edify: to build up a person or a community; to strengthen; to empower; to affirm certain qualities; to help someone or a group to grow, to reach maturity; to construct a building, an edifice, of faith and character in another person or group.
a. All Christian believers are in the construction business. We are called to build up one another, to go out of our way to affirm, strengthen and empower fellow believers. We have an important role in helping other believers to grow, to mature in faith and character. All Christians have building materials at our disposal through the Holy Spirit. We can see from various scriptures in which we are asked to edify one another, that the materials we use to build up each other include peacemaking, unselfishness, self-control of the tongue, and using our spiritual gifts wisely. We are obligated to build up both the individual believer and the body of believers, by so doing “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13). Build up, not tear down by finding fault. Build up until we’ve reached that fullness, not stopping in mid-construction. Build up, with Jesus as the cornerstone of the individual and the body. Build up by listening to the construction Manager’s directions and following His blueprints. Build up with energy and focus, not just standing around at the site like workers waiting for a coffee break. The one building material that is most important in edifying one another is love. Love is the unshakable support beam in building others up. These biblical construction projects are impossible without love. In building up one another, love is the one mandatory construction material.
b. Verses about building up.
“Knowledge makes arrogant, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
“Let us pursue the things which make for peace. Let us aim for harmony and try to build up each other through our mutual edification.” (Romans 14:19).
“We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” (Romans 15:2).
“Beloved friends, what does all this imply? When you conduct your meetings, you should always let everything be done to build up the church family. Whether you share a song of praise, a teaching, a divine revelation, or a tongue and interpretation, let each one contribute what strengthens others.” (1 Corinthians 14:26, TPT).
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, NLT).
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful in edifying, in building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Do this by speaking words of grace to help them.” (Ephesian 4:29).
“So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, MSG).