#GOFAMINTDailyDevotion Sun. 11/2/2018
Quarter’s Theme: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CHURCH
UNIT 3 – Sustaining Interpersonal Relationship (Lessons 8-12)
CONSECRATION AND DEDICATION MONTHS
Suggested Hymns: G.H.B. 286, 352
Devotional Reading: GAL. 6:1-10
Topic For Adults
BE A SHOULDER FOR SOMEONE TO LEAN ON
Topic For Youths
LEND A HELPING HAND
Topic For Adults
IT IS GOOD TO HELP OTHERS
Scripture Lesson
ROM. 14:1; 1 THESS. 5:14; ROM. 15:1-6
11/2/2018 LESSON 11
BEAR EACH OTHER’S BURDENS
MEMORY VERSE
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2) NKJV
DAILY DEVOTIONAL READING
Sun. 11/2/2018
Bear One Another’s Burden
Gal. 6:1-4
Weariness is the devil’s tool to discourage and get us to cool down in our godly deeds and pursuits. However, the word of God encourages us not to be weary. That means, there is a source of supply you can connect to that keeps you going always and often. Bearing the burden of others, lending a helping hand and being a shoulder to lean on should be commonplace among Christians and we should never be tired of extending such to as many people as require it. The only hindrance to helping others, most often, is selfishness or self-seeking nature which is of the natural man. When we encounter brethren who are overtaken in a fault, the spiritual ones by faithful reproofs and pertinent seasonable councils should restore such and encourage them out in the spirit of meekness and not in wrath. That is how to be your brother’s keeper. Help the backslidden, restore and set in joint again the erring ones who the devil wishes to dislocate.
Point of Emphasis: We should empathize with one another under the various trials and troubles that we may meet with, without being tired.
Prayer Point: May the Holy Spirit please grant us the supernatural enablement to overcome the selfish nature which makes helping others very difficult.
BACKGROUND
Just as Animals and Plants depend on each other for respiration through the exchange of Carbon-dioxide for Oxygen, men were not created to be independent of one another. We all depend on one another for survival. It is in our interpersonal relationship that we are made complete. Where you are weak, God ordains strength for some others in that area, the weakness could be physical (1 Cor.2:3) or spiritual (1 Cor. 11:30) just as a song writer says, “we all need somebody to lean on”. In the body of Christ, we are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us (John.1:34; 15:12). Christians are enjoined to be their brothers’ burden bearer as we shall see in the lesson of today.
NOTES ON THE TEXT
PART 1: BEAR EACH OTHERS’ BURDEN (ROM. 14:1; 15:1- 4; GAL. 6:2-5)
A burden is something that has been placed upon us without any offence on our part. It is something which is beyond the strength of one person to carry. It was used in a figurative sense in Galatians 6:2 to refer to any sort of trouble or difficulty that a person faces. When it is used in that way, it refers to something oppressive or some type of hardship or difficulty. Like the burden of worry over a difficult decision/situation, fear in the face of an uncertain future, a serious financial crisis or workers’ downsizing. It might be a sinful past (Isa. 53:3-12; 1 Cor. 15:2), birth defect, poor parental background, poverty, sickness, isolation, unfulfilled desire, persecution(s), pain(s), sorrow(s), an addiction, a family member who is seriously ill or a loved one who has died (1 Kgs. 21:29; 2 Kgs.9:25). We are called to bear each other’s’ burden but not their loads. A load is something you pick up along the journey of life and carry on your back or head. They are heavy loads that we have picked up along the way and placed in our knapsacks. They are caused by us and as a result they afflict us. Examples are: Turning your poor background to a reason for playing pranks, engaging in illicit sex, etc. We were instructed in Galatians 6:5 that, “each one shall bear (carry) his own load”. A burden can be endured and shared but not so with a load.
So, “bear others’ burdens” means reaching out to others in Christ in a time of difficulty and helping them in any way that you are able. It is reaching out to give others’ meaningful living. Romans 15:1, also expresses the thought of bearing other’s burdens: “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples (infirmities) of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Those who are strong in the faith must sacrifice personal preferences in order to assist those who are in need.
This was exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ during His sojourn here (Hebrews 4:15). He demonstrated this not only by His teachings but also by His example in helping many of the poor and groaning creation. As members of the family of God, we are to:love one another, serve one another, comfort one another, encourage one another, be kind to one another, show forbearance to one another and be hospitable to one another.
The Church is an environment which God has provided to help strengthen and sustain His people through the ages. It should produce a sense of mutual warmth and nurturing, and facilitate the meeting of both individual and group needs so that there is optimal spiritual growth and development.
PART 2: NECESSITY FOR BEA-RING BURDENS (ROM. 15:4-6; GAL. 6:2,10; ROM. 12:15-16; 1 COR. 12:26; ACTS.20:35)
The simple fact of the matter is that all believers face difficulties. The assumption that lies behind this command to bear one another’s burdens is that all believers have burdens and as we shall see, God does not want us to carry them alone. Our burdens differ in detail and scope; but no Christian is exempted from difficulties. It is therefore necessary to bear other’s burden for the following reasons; It is a command from God (Gal. 6:2; 6:10; 1 Thess.5:14). It is your responsibility as a priest of God (1 Thess. 2:6-9). You will be fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). We don’t have equal strength (Rom.15:1-6). We are not sufficient in ourselves (2 Cor.3:5). We are not equally gifted or talented (Eph.4:11-12). Your earnings are not for you alone. It is an evidence of our love for God and the people of God (1 Jn.3:17; Jn.13:34). At the Lord’s return, we shall be rewarded (1 Cor. 3:13).
There are many ways by which we can reach out to our brethren during the time of difficulty. We can pray for them and with them. We can furnish them with material resources (food, clothing, shelter). We can help them financially. We can offer them Biblical counsel that relates to their situation. We can give them Biblical encouragement and lend them a listening ear. We need to fellowship with the brethren so that we may know their needs. Summarily, we can; engage in intercessory prayers, give counsel, render necessary assistance and show genuine concern. Don’t forget the admonition in the book of James that says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Jam. 4:17). However, we should prayerfully and sensitively consider the role we are going to play in bearing others’ burdens lest the owners of the burdens become dependent individuals.
The Book of Acts chapter 20 verse 35 says, “I have shown you in every way, by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive’”. There are benefits that accrue to those who bear others burdens. These include: fruitfulness (Jn. 15:4), friendship with God (Jhn. 15:4), fountain of blessings, fulfilment in ministry, stabilization of God’s family, sustenance of our relationship, etc.
CONCLUSION
Christians are supposed to be like Barnabas (Comforter of the brethren). We should allow the Holy Spirit to abound in us more and more for this is the Lord’s good pleasure; that with Him dwelling in us richly, we may all be sons and daughters of comfort in Zion. Without a heart of love, you cannot bear another person’s burden. God will open our eye to see the difficulties of our fellow believers and that we will be obedient to reach out to them in order to bear their burdens.
QUESTIONS
- What is the difference between a burden and a load?
- Why is it necessary to bear others’ burdens?
- How can we bear others’ burdens?
- Explain why we should be cautious when bearing others’ burdens.
- Mention the benefits of bearing others’ burdens.
