Read Exodus 18
Moses’ father-in-law came for a visit. He stood on the sidelines and watched Moses
in action on a “normal” day. This wise
and godly man quickly discerned one thing: Moses needed others to help him bear
the burden. God told Moses the very same
thing. He was to select 70 godly men “and they shall bear the burden of the
people with you, so that you will not bear it alone.” (Numbers 11:16-17) The job was too big … life is too big to bear
it alone. From the beginning God stated that it was not a good thing. (Genesis 2:18) We need to come along side each other and
help bear the burdens of life.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and therefore fulfill the
law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
What is the law of Christ? LOVE! Jesus said that He did not come to abolish
the law, but to fulfill it. (Matthew5:17) There were hundreds of laws, oral and written, at that time. How was He or we going to fulfill all of
them? Jesus had an answer. “’You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul and with all your
mind.’ That is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the
whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
First love God with all your affection, adoration and attention, then
love others with the same intention as you love yourself and want to be
loved. Jesus said, “This is My
commandment (i.e. My law) that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
(John 15:12; see also John 13:34 and John 15:17) Bearing one another’s burdens fulfills
this law when out of love for God and them, we help others love and feel
loved.
Bearing other’s burdens is partnering with them. It is
picking up the other end of the board. It is pushing while they pull. It is
propping them up, where we see them leaning under the weight of life. “Now we
who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not
just please ourselves.” (Romans 15:1) When we recognize that someone is
overwhelmed with the burdens of his or her situation, current demands or life
in general, we need to care enough to do everything we can. If there is any
practical help we can give, we need to give it.
If there are any words of encouragement, we need to say it. Hebrews 10:24
in The Message says, "Let’s see how inventive we
can be in encouraging love and helping out.”
We might not be able to help them bear that particular load, but can lift the load
of other demands. We definitely need to continually carry them to the Throne
of Grace through prayer where they can find the grace and mercy they need.
(Hebrews 4:16)
What they need most is grace – the manifestation of
God’s character. God’s grace comes in all shapes and sizes. In 1 Peter 4:10, we are told to be good
stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The word translated “manifold” is poikilos,
which means a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and functions. We get the word "polka dot" from poikilos. There is a
perfect size and shape of grace for every situation and need. God has it. (2 Corinthians 9:8) When we are
being good stewards, we are the ones God is using to distribute that abundant
grace. We need to share what we have
received from God; it is most likely exactly what they need.
Making It
Personal
God entrusted Jethro with the grace of godly wisdom
(which he may or may not have been aware of), then used a vacation to put
Jethro in a place of awareness where that grace was needed. He was a good steward of that grace when he
graciously shared it with his son-in-law.
- How does this same pattern (entrustment, awareness and stewardship) apply to those struggling under life’s burden whom God has brought to your attention?
Using the following chart:
- Who has God brought to your attention that is struggling under life’s burdens?
- What is their specific burden at this time in his or her life?
- Go to the Throne of Grace on their behalf. (Hebrews10:19-25 The Message recommended)
- Partnering with God “be inventive” and select a polka-dot of grace that practically, emotionally, physically and/or spiritually helps bear his or her burden.
- Do it!
Who
|
Present Burden
|
Prayed
|
Polka-dot of Grace
|
Done it!
|
No one should bear a burden alone. What does Jesus
offer in Matthew 11:28-30?
How does this apply to helping you bear other’s
burdens?
