Bearing Others’ Burdens
1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” (Psalm 69:9) 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians are supposed to help one another when we need it. My pastor says that Christians are the only people in the world who execute their wounded and the sad part is that for the most part it’s true. How many people come into the fellowship of believers and, while seeking support and assistance while they work on their personal sins and afflictions that they have trouble with, their fellow believers ostracize them because they don’t want their sinful influence around them? We’re a house FULL of sinners – who are we to pick and choose which sins we want around is? We are to step up and be the body of Christ – helping those who are learning what it means to be a Christian and carrying their burdens with them. How are they to learn if there is no one who is willing to help them? How can they know that you struggled with pornography and wandering eyes if you’re not willing to step up and tell them about the deliverance that Jesus provided for you from these sins? Our brothers and sisters NEED our help – Jesus uses our circumstances and our past failures to prepare us for the work of assisting in healing the newly converted and if we do not take a stand and help them we are harming them. Let God work through you and give up some of your time and your personal history to strengthen our family. You will not be disappointed. We should always keep our main focus, no matter the context, on Jesus – He alone is the one who has purchased us by His sacrifice and He alone is the one who can lead us to help one another. Our hope is in the deliverance from our bodies to come when He takes us home – until then we strengthen and encourage one another in our walk of obedience. The ultimate goal, while we are here, is to focus our energy on proclaiming the glory of God in thought, word, and deed until He returns. May we never deviate from our path, and may we not hesitate to carry our new brothers and sisters until they are able to stand and walk on their own.