Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 16, 2012

Bear and Share

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 6:1-6.
 
“1 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.
 
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
 
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
 
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.
 
5 For each one will bear his own load.
                                               

6  The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.”  Galatians 6:1-6.

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“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.  For even Christ did not please Himself;  but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”  For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Romans 15:1-6. 

We bear and share.  We bear the weaknesses of others, patiently tolerating their shortcomings and restoring them to strength and soundness with a spirit of gentleness.  We share God’s Word to encourage others and to help them persevere, and we share our money to help support those who preach and teach us.

But, there is also a sense in which we bear our own load.   We have our own personal weaknesses and pressures.  We have our own trials and tribulations.  Consider the following parable in which each began to use his or her own personal situation to make excuses.  “But He said to him, “A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many;  and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come;  for everything is ready now.’  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it;  please consider me excused.’  Another one said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out;  please consider me excused.’  Another one said, ‘I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.’”  Luke 14:16-20.   “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”  Luke 14:27     

There is also another sense in which we bear our own load.  “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”  Proverbs 9:12.  We may preach and teach, but we better listen to our own preaching and teaching.  “But each one must examine his own work …”  Verse 4.  “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.  They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim;  I box in such a way, as not beating the air;  but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”  1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

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