Choose to Bear One Another s Burdens

: ~Chapter 6~ Choose to Bear One Another s Burdens Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2: For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7

Meditation Thoughts Blest Be The Tie That Binds Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. Before our Father s throne We pour out ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares. We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear, And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. When here our pathways part We suffer mutual pain; Yet, one in Christ and one in heart, We hope to meet again. Blest Be The Tie That Binds, #510, HYMNS OF THE RESTORATION, Rev. Ed. 2007, Restoration Hymn Society, Inc., Lee s Summit, MO. 2

Choose to Bear One Another s Burdens ~Chapter 6~ Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2: For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7. Before we begin, please refer to page 7 in your lesson titled Put Off & Put On follow the instructions at the top of that page. Begin this lesson by reading, in its entirety, Chapter VI, Choosing To Help Others that begins on page 8 of this lesson; answer the questions at the end. Let us begin again considering the subject of helping others. There are three (3) quotations at the beginning of this chapter. Which one makes the most sense when we consider helping others? It is a subjective question and answer which may vary from person to person. The author identifies a basic human need we cannot be alone. We need the company and companionship of others. We are not totally self-sufficient. When we have needs to be met, or injuries to be cared for, or emotional or spiritual hurts to heal, we have need of others. In Genesis 2:23, we are reminded, And I, the Lord God, said unto, that it was that the man ; In this verse alone, God tells us that we need to have others of our own kind to be around and with us. Why do you believe this is necessary? Sometimes the needs are not met because the needful one cannot share that concern. What several things are the roadblocks to helping another person? 3

Even a sensitive follower of Christ may sometimes not see or understand a need. What are those things that hamper our helping another? As noted in the reading of Chapter VI, Paul advised Timothy to Be thou of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12). Why would this advice be valuable? For instance, there is a woman who has suffered loses and difficulties within her family. But as a believer, this woman s desire to live the advice given to Timothy and to fulfill the two commandments upon which the whole law is founded makes her a person to admire and emulate. She would never set herself up as an example for others. However, she is one who has chosen to obey and to bear another s burden. How is this done? Can we do the same? If we allow the Spirit of God to guide us, how can we not help another? The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isaiah 61:1 In our reading, there is a paragraph on Taking an Interest in Others. Are we too busy to really take an interest in another person? Can you add to that list of things mentioned in the reading? To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion; to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 How does Isaiah 61:3 fit in the desire to bear another s burdens? Or does it? 4

In a previous lesson, there was discussion about influence. Do you know of one who has influenced you in a negative way? What about a positive way? What are some of the specific things we can do or say to influence positively one who is needing some direction? What may be the most effective thing we can say or do? Read Ephesians 4:12-32. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 What does this scripture tell us in regard to bearing another s burden? Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful Psalm 1:1. The challenge is to live in a manner so that we can be the disciples that truly care and bear others burdens. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; James 1:19. Do these scriptures tell you anything about those who bear another s burden? What is the one requirement to bearing another s burden? Do you have this in you? 5

Origin This is a quotation from John Donne (1572-1631). It appears in Devotions upon emergent occasions and severall steps in my sicknes - Meditation XVII, 1624: "All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...as therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....no man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friend's Or of thine own were: Any man's death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. No man is an island; no man stands alone. Each man s joy is joy to me; Each man s grief is my own. We need one another; so I will defend Each man as my brother, each man as my friend. 6

Put Off & Put On ~ Christ is the Key Mosiah 1:119-120: For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been, from the fall of Adam, and will be, for ever and ever; But if he yields to [chooses to obey] the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man, and becometh a saint, through the atonement of Christ, the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. DO THIS: As you read your lesson, identify [write down] those things that do not allow the enticings of the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. PUT OFF those habits of THE NATURAL MAN and PUT ON or yield to [obey] the enticings of the Holy Spirit, the attributes that becometh a saint [see scripture above]. Make a PLAN OF ACTION to become THE SPIRITUAL MAN IN CHRIST. THE NATURAL MAN Choose the Enticings of Holy Spirit THE SPIRITUAL MAN PUT OFF PUT ON PLAN OF ACTION 7

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