Biblical Building Block #12 - Bear One Another's Burdens (Galatians 6:1-2) -PART 2

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”

Biblical Building Block #11 - Bear One Another's Burdens (Galatians 6:1-2) – PART 2

1.The Character of the Restoration. "… in the spirit of meekness…;" (Galatians 6:1).
The attitude of the restorer is not one of arrogance or holier-than-thou demeanor. It is one of meekness, of humility, of graciousness, of patience and kindness. Mature believers are those who know how to use the Bible to restore someone who is overtaken by some sin. They are to restore them in the spirit of meekness. This means we are not to have a condescending attitude or a spirit of superiority. As we try to help up the person and get him or her back on track spiritually, we must obey the command found in Ephesians 4:2a, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love...” C. I. Scofield said: "Oh! What love and longsuffering and gentleness and meekness and goodness and faith the ministry of restoration requires! It is work, indeed, which taxes the utmost resources of grace. For no one is so hard to get on with, no one is so critical, so unreasonable, as a saint out of communion. But thank God, love can do it."

2.The Caution in the Restoration. "…considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1).
Consider yourself, for you, too, can be tempted and overtaken by sin. There is a real possibility that we may be overtaken by sin, therefore, we are to love and help our fallen brothers just like we would want to be loved and helped. The restorer must realize he, too, can be guilty of the same sin. We must take extreme caution when we deal with erring brethren. Every one of us are inclined to the snags and snares of sin.

Sometimes we help people, and they don’t appreciate it. Sometimes they even discard or disregard our help. Sometimes they do this and come back to us again later for more help. Burden bearing is hard, and in our flesh, we sometimes get tired of doing it. When I think, however, of the most-impactful burden-bearers in my life, these have been Christians who have loved and cared and served over the decades. These are people who keep bearing burdens—not just for a moment, but for as long as God gives them strength. Ask the Lord to help you today to see the needs and burdens that those around you are carrying and to, in His strength and by His Spirit, bear one another’s burdens.

The word bear carries the idea of giving or lending a helping hand to someone carrying a weighty or heavy load. The word for "burden" here is a word that means a heavy weight or a crushing load. The word bear means to "support or carry." Everyone will have burdens to carry, and some are very heavy to bear. As Christians, we should help lift each other’s load. Believers must bear all kinds of burdens. Carrying each other's burdens is love in action and the fulfillment of Christ's command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Mark 12:30-31, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

The word burden in Galatians 6:5 refers to a backpack every foot soldier was to carry on his own. It is the word Jesus used when He said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Matthew 11:29-30, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus will never overburden us. The greatest example of carrying one another's burdens is when Jesus carried the burden of our sins to Calvary (Isaiah 53:5). Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Matthew 28:20, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Many times, people have burdens that are simply too much for them to bear alone. There is an old saying that goes, “Many hands make light work”. That is true of carrying burdens. Burdens can cause Christians to slow down, get discouraged, and sometimes even quit. We can help lift people’s burdens by kind words and works. Another person’s burden today could be our very own tomorrow. How we take up another’s load will be how another helps us with our own. You will find that if you share your brethren’s burden, both of you will walk a little straighter.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You know how broken this fallen world is. With all of those who are broken that You send my way, help give me the wisdom and grace to restore them the way Jesus would. In Jesus Name, AMEN!

Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #12 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #13 of this series.

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