Bear One Another s Burdens Text: Selected Scriptures Series: The One Another statements of the New Testament [#14] Pastor Lyle L. Wahl April 10, 2011 Theme: Walking By The Spirit Includes Bearing One Another s Burdens. Introduction Rugged individualism has been an important, even defining trait in the development of North America. The pictures in our minds often are of self-reliant, fiercely independent people who struck out into the vast frontiers, rich with space and resources. People who worked hard to forge a new way of life without depending on others. There was little room or prospect for those with physical, emotional and psychological weaknesses. The strand of rugged individualism became tightly woven into the fabric of North American culture. Yet we know that no one is totally independent. The responsibilities, opportunities, challenges, dangers and burdens of life call for mutual support. Coming to Christ does not vaporize or shield us from burdens. In fact, there are burdens that come with our new life in Christ. Remember Jesus words, Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. 1 We see the reality of burdens throughout Scripture, even in and especially in the greatest leaders. Consider Moses. God chose Moses to lead two million Israelites out of slavery in Egypt to their own land. Despite his protests when God called him, Moses was exceptionally talented. Yet he faced challenges, burdens that were too big for him to bear alone. Shortly after Israel escaped from Egypt, Moses father-in-law Jethro paid him a visit. Moses was settling all the people s questions and disputes alone. Jethro told him The thing you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out, both yourself and these people who are with you for the task is too heavy for you; you cannot bear it alone. 2 He advised Moses to appoint a series of judges, with only the major cases coming to him. 3 This burden of judging all the people was impossible for Moses to bear alone. Later, in the second year after Israel left Egypt, we find Moses again struggling with his burdens. We read part of that scene from Numbers 11 earlier. The people were tired of eating God s everyday miracle manna. They complained. Moses told God, I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. 5 God told him to gather seventy of the elders. He said,
I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone. 6 We are in the final stretch of this series on the One Another statements of the New Testament as we look at God s instruction that we bear one another s burdens. Our central text is Galatians 5:25-6:5, although we will trace this truth throughout the New Testament. In 5:25 Paul wrote If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Then he moves into bearing one another s burdens as chapter six opens. Walking by the Spirit includes bearing one another s burdens. Bear One Another s Burdens. So, we are to help each other bear our burdens. Galatians 6:2, Bear one another s burdens. The word bear in this verse is one of the three words for to bear which we noted last week as we thought about bearing with one another. Its basic sense is to take up, to carry, support, to endure. Jesus told His disciples to find a place for observing the Passover by finding a man who would meet them carrying a pitcher of water. 7 Carrying is this word to bear. In the first church council about how Gentiles fit into the church with respect to the law, Peter challenged the apostles and elders, why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? The point in Galatians 6, then, is to help each other by picking up, by helping to carry each others burdens. The word burden, as in English, has the idea of being heavy, and so can refer to something difficult to carry or handle. God calls us to help carry one another s burdens, each other s heavy loads. The kind of burdens that are front and center in Galatians 6 are those burdens which are related to sin. Let s read the opening lines of Galatians 6 again. Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ (1-2). The law of Christ is to love one another. 8 We are to walk by the Spirit (5:25), and so walk in the light, in truth, in holiness. But if and when a believer is caught or overtaken in any trespass or sin, those who are walking in the Spirit are to restore him or her, and help bear the burdens of that sin. But what does this mean? We see some of the first elements in Paul s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. There is the balance of pointing out and stating the sin for what it is as well as pointing out and encouraging what is true and good, and all of this with patience. 2
Let s face it, the church today generally doesn t do a great job in bearing the burdens of each other s sins. There are times, as in the case of the church at Corinth, where the whole issue is ignored. 9 At other times the sin and some of its burdens are recognized, but the approach is to let the person drift in the wind, to reap the consequences on his own. After all, it is said, he has it coming. He is reaping what he sowed. We cannot escape it. God says when one believer is caught up in sin, others are to come along side and help carry the burden. I have a pastor friend who some years ago got caught up in a trespass, a sin. He wanted to be restored to God and God s people. I helped set up a process so we could walk with him, carry the burdens with him, on the road to restoration. But when I moved, others who were to be involved walked away from him. They refused to help carry his burdens. Yes, the process can be long and difficult. It takes time and effort to risk, to love and help carry another s burden. At times it may be three steps forward and two steps back. Some may think you are being soft on sin. But remember, never forget, we are members of one another, we are to walk by the Spirit and carry one another s burdens. Then, in the broad perspective, we are to carry other burdens, burdens related to weakness. Spiritual weaknesses bring burdens. Remember that spiritual weaknesses are not by definition sinful. They are weaknesses, they reflect lack of growth and maturity. The apostle Paul touched on this in the book of Romans from 14:1-15:13. In 15:1-2 he tells us, Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. (1-2) We ve looked at this in earlier messages in this series, but now note that bearing with and pleasing a weaker believer for his good includes bearing the burdens that come with that lack of strength. In Paul s day in part it had to do with dietary rules and observing special days. The person who had not yet fully grasped his freedom in Christ carried the burden of wondering why others were not concerned as he was, the burden of tending to judge those who were in fact spiritually stronger or more mature. As Paul called those who were spiritual, those who were stronger to bear these burdens with their weaker brothers and sisters in Christ, so he calls us to do the same in our time and issues. Paul drew on the words of Isaiah when he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. The writer of Hebrews picked this up in chapter 12, starting at verse 12, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. (12-13) 3
Encouraging the fainthearted, strengthening the weak, making straight ways rather than complex and convoluted ways, being patient with those who are spiritually weak, is part of carrying their burdens. Physical and material weaknesses also bring burdens. It is my observation that in general the church does much better in bearing each other s physical and material burdens than their spiritual burdens. The New Testament example and pattern is found in the first days of the church. After the church was born on Pentecost, many believers from throughout Israel and beyond stayed in Jerusalem for fellowship and teaching, Money ran out. So, Acts 2 tells us, they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need (45). Years later Paul challenged the church in Corinth to give and help the strapped believers in Jerusalem as the churches in Philippi, Berea and Thessalonica were doing. Out of their own great affliction and poverty they willingly and joyfully overflowed with generous giving beyond their ability. 10 Sometimes it may be more difficult to extend ourselves, our time, energy and patience than our money. But when its all said and done, helping carry another s burdens is more about giving ourselves than giving our money. We help carry another s burden as we sit with them in silence beside the bed of their dying loved one. We help carry another s burden as we listen to them pour out their questions and hurts. We help carry another s burdens as we roll up our sleeves and help them complete a task that is difficult or too heavy for them to do alone. We help carry another s burden through genuine words of encouragement and prayer with as well as for them. We help carry another s burden as we patiently teach them skills they need or want to have. The opportunities are endless. And, yes, we must be discerning about the other person and ourselves, but walking by the Spirit includes bearing one another s burdens. Now we need to turn to how we are to do this, to the way to bear these burdens. First, we are to do this with gentleness. Galatians 6:1 says, in a spirit of gentleness. As I noted last Sunday, gentleness is the result of self-control. It is the opposite of sharp attitudes and actions. We are to be gentle at all times. When someone is carrying a heavy burden, even when it is the result of doing something foolish or foolish and sinful, it can be difficult to maintain self-control and gentleness while exhorting, correcting, even rebuking and then directing and encouraging that person. That person is our brother or sister. To help carry their burdens we must rely on the Holy Spirit to maintain self-control and be gentle. 4
Then we are to carry each other s burdens with humility. Look at verse 3. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. While this verse states a general principle, it does not stand in isolation. It is in the context of bearing another s burden related to sin. True humility is needed here. Humility as displayed by Christ who did not cling to all His divine splendor but emptied Himself to come to earth as one of us to die on the cross to save us. 11 If I am not humble as I come along side to help carry another s burden, I will not be, cannot be the channel of help that God intends and, Paul says, I am deceiving myself in the process. Next, we are to carry each other s burdens with self-examination. Go on to verse 4. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. In defending himself at his trial, Socrates said that someone might say Can t you live quietly and peacefully in exile, Socrates, for our sake? But he said he could not. He stated that the greatest good for a man [is] to talk every day about virtue, that he examined both himself and others. And more, he said that the life without examination [is] not worth living for a man. 12 Socrates did not reverence the true and living God, but he did grasp the importance of this truth, of examining himself. The apostle Paul s instructions for participating in communion include these words, But a man must examine himself 13 To relate to God as we should, to help others as we should, we need a clear assessment of ourselves. Note that each of these qualification relate to ourselves, not to the one whose burden we are carrying. The final qualification relates to ourselves and also to the one with the burden. Our coming along side, picking up and carrying the burden is to have the goal of restoring the one who has sinned to God and to other believers. Let s go back to the opening lines of chapter 6. Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (1-2) Restoration: to bring back to his or her former condition. Matthew used this word when he described James and John mending [restoring] their nets (4:21). No matter what the cause or type of burden, the end goal is always the same to mend, restore, bring that person to or back to where he or she should be as a child of God. When the burdened person tends to irritate us, when progress is slow, when the burden is related to sin that disturbs us, it may be difficult to keep God s goal of restoration in focus, or even to keep it as our goal at all. 5
Bear Our Own Burdens. I realize this may sound out of balance. Where is the individual responsibility? Are we creating dependent people? The balance comes in verses 4 and 5 of Galatians 6 where God tells us to bear our own load or burdens. All of us have burdens to bear. Go to verse 5. For each one will bear his own load. At first glance this might seem to contradict verse 2 which tells us to bear one another s burdens. This statement does not contradict, but compliments the words of verse 2. Some point out that the word load or burden in verse 5 is a different word than burden in verse 2 and, because of its form and being used for a soldier s pack, that it refers to smaller burdens. That is reading too much into the word. Jesus used it in Matthew 23 when He said that the scribes and Pharisees tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. (4) If there is help from this term it might be seen in uses as in Acts 27:10 where it refers to the burden or cargo of a ship. There it is not the size of the burden, but that it is the standard or appropriate load for the ship. Back in Galatians 6:5, Paul is talking about each of us focusing on our own load or burden and not, as verse 4 indicates, comparing ourselves with others. Remember that Jesus said He gives us a yoke, a burden to bear. 14 Okay, but what are some of these burdens that we must bear? Consider a few from Scripture. Spiritually, there is rejection, persecution and suffering because believers belong to, take their stand with Christ. Jesus has told us, If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you. 15 Paul told the church at Philippi, to you it has been granted for Christ s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake (1:29). So he challenged Timothy, Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 16 In Edmonton we do not face the kind or extent of persecution many believers do. Because we belong to Christ and take our stand for Him, whatever suffering that brings is a burden that we must carry, that we cannot shuffle off to others, even though we can encourage each other. Then sometimes God allows burdens that are for our good. Do you recall Paul s testimony about this? He wrote, Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me to keep me from exalting myself! 17 As well, all of us are to follow Paul s example of proving what kind of people we are by serving one another. 18 The calling and responsibilities God gives us belong to us. We cannot shift them to others. Other believers can and should support and encourage us, but the responsibility is ours, whether in suffering for Christ, serving others, fulfilling our ministries, fulfilling our responsibilities to our families and employers, we need to bear our own load. 6
In light of this, we should remember that all of us will be judged for how we bear our burdens. Each believer will be judged by Christ not with respect to salvation because that was settled at the cross, but for our faithfulness to Him. We are servants of Christ, and He requires us to be faithful and trustworthy. 19 Each believer s works will be evaluated by Christ. 20 When Christ judges us, He will not be grading on the curve. Go back to Galatians 6:4 once more, But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. I can t bank on how I think I have done compared to anyone else, thinking I did more or better. We must bear our own load. Conclusion. Walking by the Spirit includes bearing one another s burdens. A writer for the Edmonton Journal recently was a guest singer with a 90-voice male choir at the Winspear Centre. One of his friends introduced him by commenting that this writer says he can t carry a tune home in a bucket. So, his friend continued, we have given him a bucket with a tune already in it. They wanted to help carry his burden of not being able to sing well. While they presented him with a white bucked labelled Tune In A Bucket, they may have helped him more by drowning him out. 21 This was, of course, good natured fun, a symbolical act more than real help. But the thought was there. I wonder, how often, to what extent is the thought in our minds that we are to bear one another s burdens? And, going one step further, how often are we doing that? As you think with God about these things, thank Him that He always will come to your aid, will always carry you and your burdens. Thank Him for those believers in the body of Christ God has used to carry your burdens. Ask God to make you a burden bearer. 7
1 Matthew 11:28-30. 2 Exodus 18:17-18. 3 Exodus 18:19-22. 4 Numbers 11:10. 5 Numbers 11:14. 6 Numbers 11:17. 7 Mark 14:13. 8 cf. John 13:34; 15:12-17. 9 1 Corinthians 5:1-8. 10 2 Corinthians 8:1-6. 11 Philippians 2:5-8. 12 Plato. Socrates Defense. Cathal Woods & Ryan Pack, translators, 2010. <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1023144#>. Accessed 07 March 2011. 13 1 Corinthians 11:28. 14 Matthew 11:28-30. 15 John 15:20. 16 2 Timothy 2:3. 17 2 Corinthians 12:7. 18 cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5. 19 1 Corinthians 4:2. 20 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10. 21 Nick Lees. can carry a bucket, but a tune is a heavy load. Edmonton Journal, March 29, 2011. 2011 Lyle L. Wahl Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. 8