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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
"The Three Bears"
Once upon a time...oops. No, that is not the material we want to study today. The story of the mama bear and papa bear and the little girl who slept in the wrong bed is entertaining, but Paul’s inspired instruction in Galatians 6 has eternal ramifications. Three times in that chapter Paul used the word “bear.” Each time it was used to provide guidance for life so needed by Christians.
“Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens”
Life on this old earth often brings obstacles and burdens that are almost too great for us to bear. All of us face this problem from time to time, but we must not allow our burdens to blind us to the needs of others. Christians are told to be ready to help shoulder the load that is too heavy for another. One of the saddest verses in the Bible is Psalms 142:4: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” In danger of death at the hands of Saul, David despaired, writing those words. Of course David knew God cared for him as well as others. When we reach this point of despair, it is wise to remember Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 31:6:
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Remembering God cares for us motivates us to “bear one another’s burdens.” Galatians 6:1 shows one way in which we may do this: “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.” What greater burden can we help others bear than to show them how to be freed from their sin?
“Every Man Shall Bear His Own Burden”
This may sound contradictory, but it admonishes us to realize that each person has responsibilities that no one else can carry for him. The word translated “burden” here is not the same as in verse 2. Here it is phortion, the word used to describe the soldier’s pack, the load that must be each person’s own responsibility. While we need and should seek help in times of tragedy or loss, there are some burdens we alone must bear. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 about five young maidens who went to a wedding feast. They were not properly prepared, however, and when the bridegroom came with the bride, they were excluded from the celebration. They had attempted to borrow from others, but there are some things no one can borrow.
When that time of accounting comes, each person must answer for his own life and his own actions, 2 Corinthians 5:10. We will not be judged collectively, as in a family or congregation. Each individual will be judged, and no one can bear the burden of our responsibility. Note the words of Revelation 20:12-15:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works...and they were judged every man according to their works...And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Jesus Christ bore our sins on the cross, but that does not relieve us of our own individual responsibility. Each of us must bear his own burden.
“Bear...the marks of the Lord Jesus”
Being a Christian is not without its price. That’s why Jesus said we must count the “cost,” Luke 14:15-33. Paul said, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” The term “marks” is from the Greek word, stigma. It is not always easy to be Jesus’ disciple. We must follow in His steps, bearing the stigma as well as the blessings of being His disciple, 1 Peter 2:21-22.
What other marks must we ‘bear’ as a Christian?
- Concern for lost souls. Not only by evangelism, but by encouraging and even correcting Christians who stray from the pathway to life, 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
- Compassion for those with heavy burdens. The parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25 reveals our imperative to assist those in need.
- Humility. A trait common to those who bear their cross is that of humility, recognizing and regretting their own weakness and sin. Boasting and pride are hardly compatible with this quality.
- Responsibility, Maturity. Paul encouraged Christians to grow, be mature in attitudes and actions. When a duty is given, the mature person will go to any righteous degree to accomplish that task.
- Doing good to all men. Luke said Jesus “went about doing good,” Acts 10:38, and in Galatians 6:10 we read,
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
This trait must abound in Christians.
Three Bears: other’s burdens; our own burdens; and bearing in our body the marks of the Lord Jesus. These are not optional items. The Christian will seek the best interests of his/her brothers and sisters in Christ. What a blessed privilege that can be for us all!
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Live As If You Were Dying
Many are familiar with the song by country artist Tim McGraw which possesses the above-mentioned title. The song describes the life of a man in his forties who is diagnosed with a terminal disease. The lyrics describe a man who, realizing his days were numbered, chose to live life his final days differently and with more relish and appreciation. I particularly like the following sentiments:
He said I was finally the husband
that most of the time I wasn’t
and I became a friend a friend would like to have
and all the sudden going fishin’
wasn’t such an imposition
and I went three times that year I lost my dad
well I finally read the good book
and I took a good long hard look
at what I’d do if I could do it all again.
What if you found out that you had only a few short years, or perhaps months, to live. Wouldn’t it change how you live and view life? With this in mind, each of us needs to understand that, whether we accept it or not, our days are numbered (Psalm 90:10-12). Life is brief and uncertain (James 4:14). The need for sobriety and seriousness, as it relates to what is most important, is imperative (Mark 8:36-37). Every man should live as if he were dying because, in actuality he is! That means we should:
- Serve the Lord Now. Made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), and created for His glory (Isaiah 43:7); this describes the truths of man’s existence. Since this is who we are and why we are here, we must spend the short time we have carrying out the will and wishes of our Maker. Never put off obedience (Acts 24:25), because we have only the here and now (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
- Enjoy Life Now. This point is the natural outflow of living out the first one. When we serve the Lord with all we have, our life will be enjoyable (John 10:10). The Lord wants us to enjoy the many blessings found in Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). These are the things that should be prized and in which we should delight.
- Exert All Your Energy Now. Solomon said, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV). This life is the only one we have in which we can serve the Lord and enjoy the process. Therefore, we must embrace the urgency of giving our all to the Lord’s cause at all times (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Will you choose to live as if you were dying? Because, whether you like it or not, that is the predicament you are in. Therefore, the choice should be made to serve the Lord, enjoy the time you have and give your all for Him every day. Then, you will truly be living as if life will end shortly.
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