Stirring the Pot

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"

Have you ever been in a situation or with a group of people and everything is running smoothly? Everyone is getting along. Conversation is pleasant and even stimulating. Then someone interjects a controversial subject. Some political or moral topic such as health care, raising taxes, abortion or any of a number of topics where opinions are strong and emotions run hot. Suddenly the pleasant meeting and conversation is no longer pleasant. Folks are getting angry. People are shouting. Verbal fighting is taking place.

Someone stirred the pot. With the introduction of the controversial topic they incited or provoked a heated debate. This is the idea of the word used in Hebrews 10:24 “to stir up”, also translated provoke in the KJV. It is a strong word. The root meaning of the word deals with sharpening. Thus, it could be said that to “stir up” or “provoke” is to sharpen the feelings of another. The word is only used here and in Acts 15:39 where Paul and Barnabas were divided over the usefulness of John Mark. The “contention was sharp” between them. They had a “sharp disagreement” about it.

When the writer of Hebrews uses this word here, he obviously wants to get across to his readers the seriousness of the point. He tells us to think about how we can stir up, provoke, or incite others in the Body of Christ to love and good works. This implies that it is never an easy task. In our human condition it is not natural to want to love the unlovely, or love when we don’t feel like it, or to do good deeds when we have so much life to live.

Both love and good works are vital components of the Christian life. Jesus said in John 13:35 (ESV) “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is the main ingredient of a church or a family or an individual that defines them as Christians to the lost world. Those outside the church see our love for one another and come to conclude that we are followers of Christ. Over and over again throughout my life I have talked with folks who gave up on church and the reason I hear most often is that there was little of no difference between how Church people treated each other and how people treated each other outside of church. This ought not to be!!! We need to love one another. Sometimes we need to stir each other up to loving others.

Jesus also said in Matthew 5:16 (ESV) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
He is telling us that our good works shine a light for all to see and in doing so they will glorify God the Father. If we love God we will obey Him. And if we obey Him, we will live lives filled with good works. And these good works bring Him glory.

We must keep in mind that when we stir each other up it might for a time be contentious. There may be some sparks. It won’t be easy to do the stirring or to be the one stirred. However, being easy isn’t requisite to the doing of it. It is when things are hard to do that we must strive all the more to do them. We must stand ready to “stir the pot”. We must be willing to love our brothers and sisters in Christ enough to give them some stirring if need be. The world needs us to be stirred up. Let us “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”