There Is a Burden to Bear, is it for US?
Gal. 6:1-10: 2 Chr. 28

INTRO: Bear ye one another's burdens! Do we? Do we try? Do we care?
 

Gal. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

  1. People need our empathy more than our being emphatic (dogmatic) about their failures.
    1. People need to know we care
    2. Anyone can tell people that they are doing wrong with their life and morals.

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  2. People need our hand in friendship more than they need an handout.

  3. 2 Chr. 28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:
    2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
    3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
    4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
    5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.
    6 For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.
    7 And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.
    8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
    9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.
    10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?
    11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
    12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
    13 And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.
    14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
    15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
     
     

    1. After an handout, we can forget.
    2. If we give them our hand, we will be there the next time.


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  4. People need our understanding more than they need our opinion.
       
    1. All men have come short! - What is in your "eye"?
Matt. 7: 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
 
 
  1. But by God's grace, it is us that are in that same situation.
1 Cor. 10: 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
 
 
  1. So the question that arises is, "What do I need to be doing about others, in order to have a greater burden for them?"
    1. Friendships - You need friendships (in and out of church) - you MUST CARE!!!!!!
    2. Find something to be burdened about in your friends' lives (salvation, health, finances, etc.) - Be sensitive, not nosy!
    3. Feel about your friends' problems as they are your very own!
    4. Faithfully seek God on their behalf - make it important.
    5. Fix anything God has allowed you resources you can fix.
    6. Fasten any and all credit to God!
Gary Marcum - East 38th St. FWB - 07/25/99am