Bear One Another's Burdens

One Another
Bear One Another’s Burdens
Galatians 6:1-5

One of the marks of someone who is following Jesus is the willingness to share in the burdens of others.

Dealing With Sin In The Family (1)

1. The Ministry of Restoration

“caught in transgression” – This carries the idea of one who has been overtaken by sin – Surprised they got caught, surprised at their condition

The “spiritual” people Paul has in mind are not some elite group, but regular Christ followers who are living “by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25)

Restore – “katartizō” – fit together; join together for full use – often the term was used to speak of setting a dislocated bone

Restoration may be (and often is) painful, but it is far less painful and destructive than leaving the situation alone

2. The Manner of Restoration

• Gently
• Humbly

Dealing With Pain In The Family (2)

Burden – “baros” – heavy weight; troublesome circumstance; overwhelming load

How Do I Do This?

• Moving Toward
• Listening for understanding and connection
• Suffering With – Helping lift the load – Possibly financially, physically, etc.

“Law of Christ”

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” (Galatians 5:14, ESV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34, ESV)

“In sum, the “law of Christ” is for Paul “the whole tradition of Jesus’ ethical teaching, confirmed by his character and conduct and reproduced within his people by the power of the Spirit” (cf. Rom 8:2)” F.F. Bruce

Dealing With The Load I Am Called To Carry (3-5)

1. Examine our own thoughts, motivations, words and deeds

2. Avoid comparing yourself with others

3. Celebrate with thanksgiving what God has done in you

4. Carry the load that God gives you to bear resting in God’s sovereignty and grace

5. Burdens are different than Loads

Load – “phortion” – individual nontransferable cargo; like a pack for a person or freight of a ship

6. We must give an Account for our load and no other

7. God never leaves us to carry the load Alone

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22, ESV)

An Important Clarification

• We are responsible For ourselves
• We are responsible To others

When We Confuse the Two Personally We Can Get Stuck In:

• Perpetual Pain
• Irresponsibility

When We Confuse the Two Interpersonally We Can Get Stuck In:

• Toxic Guilt
• Codependent Relationships

“The kind of God we really believe in is revealed in how we treat one another. The lovely gospel of Jesus positions us to treat one another like royalty, and every non-gospel positions us to treat one another like dirt.  But we will follow through horizontally on whatever we really believe vertically.”  Ray Ortlund

Questions To Consider:

• Have I personally cast my burden of sin upon God by repenting of my sin and placing my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as the forgiver of my sin and the rightful leader and Lord of my life?
• What loads is God calling me to carry in my life right now? Am I handling those responsibly with His enabling grace? 
• Are there burdens that I am carrying right now that I need to allow others to come alongside me for a season? What will I do to make my need known?
• Who are the people in my life that may be caught up in transgression? What is one specific step I will take to seek to help to restore them?
• Who are the people in my life that God wants me to move toward to help bear their burden? What is one specific step I will take this week?
• Spend time reviewing the teaching above. Begin making any adjustments that you sense God is directing you to begin to live out in your life and relationships.

Ready to take your Next Step? 
Text Next to 803-637-8484