Seriously Strong

Romans 15:1-2 KJV
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

I will likely be never forget in Bible college the discussions over who are the strong and the weak brethren of Romans fourteen. Naturally those of us who believed in standards and separation from the world considered that a mark of maturity and spiritual strength. But those Christians who are more progressive point out that Paul's argument was in favor of eating meat that some more conservative types were offended at. Of course I would say along with Paul that I would not eat the meat so I would not offend those who might be offended.

Regardless it seems to me that Paul defines spiritual strength in Romans fifteen verses one and two. Spiritual strength is "not to please ourselves" but to "please his neighbor" instead. This indeed would be a mark of true strength that, whether we tend to the more progressive or the more conservative view of biblical application, we sought to please our neighbor at the expense of our own pleasure. 

And this is strength because it is not easy to do. Even among those who serve others it is possible that they serve the pleasure of others so that they might receive some pleasure of their own. To truly serve the pleasure of another is to take the lesser place. It is to accept the office of the servant, yea rather, the slave. It is to seek our neighbor's pleasure and never seek a means of escape. It is to surrender our pleasure for their pleasure.

That would be an seriously strong quality.