1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
In this passage, I see two sides. The other is the load that we bear on behalf of our brother or sister. One side is the load that we carry ourselves. We are obviously called to counsel and help others who are struggling in life and in spiritual battles. We should gently and with love, approach that person in efforts to let Christ use us to touch the heart of that person. Verse one alerts us though, in that we should be aware that we can get caught up in the sins that our friend or family member is struggling with.
Verse two is the root of bearing another's burden. We are instructed to carry each other's burdens, but only in a manner in which it glorifies Christ, not ourselves. Many times, we get an ego boost or feel good inside because we are counseling and aiding someone when they are at a low point. Don't get me wrong, you should get a good feeling from carrying out the call that Christ has placed upon your heart. To know that you are living out the word is a very good thing. Sometimes, we carry burdens with a thought of making ourselves look holy or better, with everything figured out. Our intentions should be from the heart to serve God, not ourselves.
Individually, we can serve and help others find their point of spiritual restoration, but as a church we can do the same. We think that a week of missions a year and financial giving is enough. Truth is it is a constant love. As God's people, we are to bear the burdens of the poor, the prostitute, the filthy, the rich, the young, the old, the addicts, the drunk, the intelligent, the dumb, the homosexual, the lame, and the list continues. God loves the man who has a dollar in his pocket, just as much as the man who has $100,000,000. We should do the same, with a heart of compassion, not selfish ambition.
The side that we bear ourselves is found in verses 3 through 5. Verse 1 and 4 clearly warn us that we should watch ourselves because we could be tempted. A famous line comes to my mind, "check yourself, before you wreck yourself".
2 Corinthians 13:5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves...
If we aren't strong enough to withstand the possibility of temptation in faith, we should be careful of bearing another's load. At the same time, if we approach bearing the load with the wrong mindset and heartset, then we could also be tempted.
Through testing ourselves, as verse 4 instructs, we can find a sense of humility in examining ourselves, not in comparison to someone else, but in comparison to the word of God. To reflect on yesterday, we are all unrighteous. We all have sins and burdens to bear. We are responsible for this load.
So, in summary, we can bear two loads. Our load and our brother's load. We have to be careful how to approach taking part of someone's load. We must check ourselves, or we might wreck ourselves and fall into sinful desire or even let that person down. We have to live by faith. Our measures and standards that we are to live according to are not found in this world, but in the gospel.
If your heart is right...bear someone else's burden. If you are spiritually weak, find restoration in your life and seek counsel in someone who is willing to bear your burden in the right way. People need the love of God. It is our duty.
The first step is sometimes the hardest...
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