“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2
All of us need the help of others and the Lord to make our lives what Christ wants them to be.
Galatians 6 includes instructions for how people who are free in Christ and walking by God’s Spirit, should treat each other. Christians should restore those who are caught by sin, and we should bear each other’s burdens. Only those who plant the fruit of God’s Spirit, by faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life. We Believers should not get tired of doing good for each other!
Often when I’m in the mist of newness it seems, sometimes I become so familiar with spectacular it doesn't move me as it should. Then I have a look at something lesser, be amazed, and then look back to reality, feeling the wonder of the original revolution of the soul, my true purpose in life—the worship and love of God.
“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood,”
To develop Christlike love takes diligence and patience and the constant nourishment of the seed. When the fruit is ripe, it can be eaten so that it fills the soul with God’s love. As we love like God, we experience the love of God, a love that can fill our souls with happiness.If love for one another is going to flourish and grow in our church, we must be rooted more deeply in love. Question: "What is the church?";a building or a denomination?
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slavesor free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit” 1 Corinthian 12:13 Wow, this meansthe body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ”. The People! triumph
I use to be a part of a church outreach that included serving hot meals, bible study and church worship to the homeless at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Colorado. Volunteering with the homeless has turned out to be a rewarding and eye-opening experience. Part of my time was spent providing a ride to the worship service for a dear friend, Ralph. I miss attending church/bible class, fellowshipwith him and also experiencing the amazing grace of Jesus Christ together.We kept things really simple, rejoicing a lot with humor as we lifted our hearts high as pilgrims marching together to a new place, a place of glory, the road of life with a focal point on God and eternal life.
Even our conversation was down- to- earth.We engaged as one in a simple way and Shared things with each other with humor yet we ran our race with both our eyes focused on Christwhile sharing good fairytales of laughter.I would often wonder how could we resist the allure of the world and keep our focus where it belongs, on Christ?
As he entered my car he would acknowledge me with, “hey brother, should I cover my mouth” as he grinned (a reference to another cold weather day, to remind him to take care because of the chill). He would love to shout out, “back in the day ‘Aretha Franklin’,” giving me kudos to my favorite singer, as he song some of the soulful sounds blaring from the radio. Whilst, we arrived at the church my friend would always ask me, do you want me to carry your serving tray. Jokingly, “no I’d like you to try and lift yourself up in this serving tray”. I would tell him, “Grab hold of the handles with both hands and lift your way into the church”. He would gin, laugh and say Ah brother, you have jokes, I can’t do that without help”.
You see both of our focus was directed to one’s attention, a concentrate on something that we see the world for what it is: a sin-filled place of desperate needed help. The more clearly the light of Christ will stand out;which is a single-mindedness on Christ, He has our attention; we are concentrating on Him and His word; He occupies the forefront of our minds. Such a focus is only fitting, because Jesus “is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:18). By rights, He should be our focus.
There is a very important reason why my passenger/friend is not able to lift himself/herself up in the serving tray; What is it you say? There’s an old saying that you might be familiar with: “You can’t pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.”
Living for God may be difficult, but it is not joyless. Paul wrote his most joyful letter while suffering persecution in Rome. We will still face temptation and hardship, but when the glory of God is our focus, living for Him becomes the source of our joy rather than a drudgery (Psalm 100:2; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 4:16).
Someone else, someone outside the tray, will have to do the lifting-like this. It’s impossible to carry yourself but someone else can do it! This is not just true for people in a pail or tray. It’s true for all of us in living our lives. God has made us in such a way that we must depend on the help of others and they must depend on us. None of us has all the strength we need all the time. No one knows everything.
We need other people and they need us. We need teachers, parents, pastors, friends, neighbors, doctors, nurses
,truck drivers, cashiers, fellow church people, and many others. It does not mean you are weak when you need help and ask for it. IT means you are smart. You’ve figured out that God wants it that way. Unfortunately, there are a few who isolate Galatians 6:2 and make a career out of asking for help. They misuse God’s command to bear one another’s burdens to avoid their own responsibilities and habitually harass their church families with expectations of aid.
Walking in the light of God’s Word is a delicate balance between selfless giving and responsible boundaries. If we err too far on one side, we become self-focused and overly independent. But erring too far the other way leads to assuming responsibility for other people’s messes. When we aim to bear our own loads, while always being available to bear the burdens of others as the Lord leads, we will strike that perfect balance.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” Ephesians 6:10
God’s plan is that everybody helps everybody. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And don’t be afraid to help someone! As always with the help of the Holy Spirit becoming our permanent possession the moment we believe!
God Bless You and This Ministry!
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