C A R L B. G A R N E R
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 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 to provide the 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 these words. Of course David knew that God cared for him as well as others. When we reach this point of despair, it is wise to remember the words of Moses 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 take away 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.” We also must bear the mark of being His disciple, of following in His steps, 1 Peter 2:21-22. What other marks must we Œbear’ 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.
- Compassion for those with heavy burdens. The parable of the Sheep and Goats of Matthew 25 reveals the imperative of giving assistance to 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 their attitudes and acts. When a duty is given, the mature person will do whatever it takes to accomplish that task. 5. 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.
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