Mutual Responsibility in Rom. 15:1 and its Relevance to the Economic Development of Christian Home

Abstract

The idea of bearing one another’s burden is not merely an abstract principle, but a practical ethic intended to guide relationships within the body of Christ. The principle of mutual responsibility is a core tenet of Christian ethics, and nowhere is it more poignantly articulated than in Romans 15:1, “we who are strong ought to bear with the failing of the weak and not to please ourselves”. This verse encapsulates the apostolic vision of a community built on compassion, humility, and selflessness. This alone is a pedestal for the economic development of any society. The objective of the paper is to strengthen unity, tolerance, and spiritual maturity that prioritizes communal well-being over personal liberty, which enhances economic development. The author adopts qualitative method and both historical and exegetical approaches also used. The researcher adopts Social Exchange Theory (SET) as a theoretical framework. The research finds out that, in an age marked by individualism, emotional isolation and relational breakdowns, even within professing Christian families, the call to bear with one another’s weaknesses is both countercultural and urgently needed. The paper concludes that: Christian homes are meant to reflect the love, endurance, and mutual submission modelled in Christ, yet they increasingly mirror the fractured dynamics of the broader society