TO BEAR ANOTHER & TO BEAR HIS OWN
Written by Deborah.
8/22/03
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. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Galatians 6:1-5 [King James Version]
Even if a man should be detected in some sin, my brothers, the spiritual ones among you should quietly set him back on the right path, not with any feeling of superiority but being yourselves on guard against temptation. Carry each other's burdens and so live out the law of Christ. If a man thinks he is "somebody" when he is nobody, he is deceiving himself. Let every many learn to assess properly the value of his own work and he can then be rightly proud when he has done something worth doing, without depending on the approval of others. For every man must "shoulder his own pack". Galatians 6:1-5 [J.B. Phillips]
What a privilege we have as Christians to help one another and to minister to each other! We can, with God's help and strength, bear one another's burdens without succumbing to the burden. In our Christian Adoption family, we have the joy and honor to help each other carry the burdens we face in the adoption process as well as a multitude of life related issues. Sometimes we succeed in truly assisting each other and sometimes we must allow the individual to bear their own burden. It seems like a contradiction--"bear ye one another's burdens" and "every man shall bear his own burden". God exhorts us to tenderly assist each other with prayer, to lovingly support with forgiving hearts, to have listening ears with gentle understanding, but reminds us that we are ultimately accountable for our OWN decisions. It's a balancing act--to help carry the burdens of others without becoming burdened and to help carry the load without "taking it on" as our own personal problem. Friends, true friends, work to find that balance and maintain it. Mature believers, strong Christians, can bear one another's burdens without becoming burdened. Some have heard me say, "You need to develop a thicker skin". That's my way of dealing with the burdens of others without becoming equally burdened. But sometimes, I've found myself to be "thin skinned" and have become over burdened.
I continue to humble myself before His throne of grace, as I discover how spiritually immature I am. I take many burdens of those within our Christian Adoption family very personally, sometimes making their burden my own. However, every man will stand alone before the judgment (bema) seat regarding the choices and decisions he/she has made, thus every man must "shoulder his own pack".
There is no way I can adequately define the devastating and life-impacting influence that divorce has upon a child. I know from experience from both sides of the coin, so to speak. My parents divorced when I was 7 and they each remarried divorcees. Everyone in my immediate family has been divorced--several times or they never married. I never witnessed an example of a happy or contented marriage during my growing years and it's adversely influenced my life in every aspect of FAMILY COMMITMENT. Having siblings that have married and divorced several times set the groundwork for my own mistakes--which I've made a couple times. However, when Eddie and I married each other--we agreed that in our house of marriage THERE ARE NO BACK DOORS and THERE IS NO WAY OUT of our COMMITMENT to each other. In all honesty, it's been tough. Having no example to follow, it's been more than challenging to maintain and uphold that marital commitment, but WE HAVE NO BACK DOORS, so we stick together through thick and thin. Having just "laid bare" some of my life and personal experience, I now lovingly implore--no I BEG YOU…
IF YOU'RE HAVING ANY KIND OF MARRIAGE PROBLEMS or CHALLENGES--PLEASE SEEK COUNSEL. If you need someone to talk to about any marital difficulties, my heart understands and my ears are willing to listen. I will gladly bear your burden with you and do all I can to assist you. As an adult, you are responsible to ASK, SEEK & KNOCK for His deliverance.
We remain in His service,
Eddie & Deborah
For more information please read Forgotten and Timing. We encourage you to prayerfully consider registering with our service, and/or writing to us.
adoption@christianadoption.com
A non-profit Christian and Internet
service ministry. We're helping others in the adoption
process.
1.800.277.7006 620.251.4405
Eddie & Deborah S. Hill P.O. Box 243 Coffeyville, KS 67337
www.christianadoption.com adoption@christianadoption.com
