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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6.2).
More time and space could be used than we have in discussing the erroneous position that some take in saying, “The Christian is free from law; all law!” However I will not take your time nor mine defending the obvious import of this verse. This one inspired (and inspiring) verse disproves that doctrine without any comment from uninspired persons like me. Rather than approach this verse in a negative vein, we will look at it from the tremendously positive aspects which it contains.
Oftentimes in our culture we find ourselves on two ends of an extreme when the middle would be far more practical (and biblical). One such issue that is relevant to this passage concerns helping one another. Some in our society seem to believe that assistance from others is an entitlement and that all they should have to do is ask in order for their needs to be fulfilled. On the other end of the spectrum are people who are simply too proud to ask for help even when they will suffer dire circumstances if they fail to receive assistance from some quarter. The cold hard facts of reality seem to point to the middle ground as the more correct of these two positions. Sometimes there are circumstances not of our own doing which make it not only permissible but totally justifiable to ask for help from others.
As a believer I find it completely baffling to see this latter attitude, the attitude of false pride, in the church! While Galatians 6.5 (to be discussed a couple of days from now) makes it abundantly clear that we have an obligation to put forth honest and concerted effort to do our part, today’s focus text makes it clear that there are times when it is impractical if not impossible to make it with out help. This verse was written to the churches of Galatia (see Galatians 1.2) and hence, believers. The command of Galatians 6.2 is a command which, under certain circumstances, requires reciprocal action. Paul wrote, “Bear one another’s burdens.” The one helping to bear someone else’s burden today might be the one needing help with his burden tomorrow. No one is above helping and no one is above needing help! When I compare this text with what I see in the church today, I see a great gulf, a gulf of practice versus doctrine.
The church is not a place of perfect individuals; I know this for a couple of reasons. First, there are no perfect persons, and secondly, I am a member of the church. Had we been able to obtain a status where we need no help, the church would not have been a necessity. However, God knew best and He organized believers into a body. That body, just like the human body, works to the mutual aid of all its members – at least that is the way it was designed to work. The hand works to benefit all; it does not refuse to scratch an itch no matter where it is! When the body rejects any member, or any member rejects the body, something is dreadfully wrong (whether in the physical arena or in the spiritual arena).
Paul said it this way in another passage: “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12.3-5). Notice particularly the last portion which states, “…so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
There is a sense in which, when we become members of the Lord’s Church, we give up our individuality. We are individuals, but we are not our own!
Questions:
1. Why do you think that some refuse to ask for help even in times of deepest need?
2. Why do you think some seem to think they are entitled to help from others?
3. In what manner are we members one of another but yet individual members?
4. Could God have decided to save us apart from the Church? Why do you think He didn’t?
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