Condescend to Men of Low Estate

[322 words] In chapter seven of his book Balance: A Tried and Tested Formula for Church Growth, Ira North points us to the importance of helping the poor, the downtrodden, and the “lowly.” Brother North quotes Romans 12:16 (KJV) which says, “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Wayne Jackson comments on this verse by saying, “Cease pursuing grandiose ambitions; instead, descend to humility and the assistance of others.” From the beginning, the ability for mankind to sustain a “standard of living” depends on the ability to provide for himself. However, we all know, the opportunity to maintain employment and take care of ourselves depends on many things: motivation, being taught by family members the importance of labor, the opportunity to develop a skill set, and an economy that we can…