Bear One Another's Burden

Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian* is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody. (Galatians 6:1-3 New Living Translation)

One of the most important scriptures I have ever come across in the bible is the above verse of scripture especially verse 2 and yet I have found it to be one of the most unapplied scripture among many Christians. Verse 2 ends by saying that its application fulfils the law of Christ which is in John 13:34.

1 Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the news of his arrival spread quickly through the town. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for one more person, not even outside the door. And he preached the word to them. 3 Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”(Mark 2:1-5 New Living Translation)

This scripture in Mark gives a picture of how the verse in Galatians 6 was applied by four men who decided to bear the burden of one man till they have brought him to Christ.
I want you to understand that if you ever decide to carry another person you will discover that he is heavy. It took four men to carry the man with palsy to Jesus and he in no doubt was a heavy load for even four men to carry. This man sick of the palsy was in an immobile state. Palsy is a term that was applied to describe the condition of any person who was unable to command movement in an area of his body. This man apparently was in capable of commanding movement that enabled him to walk. in palsy of this type, the muscles,tissues,bones,nerves and every other physical attribute necessary for movement are present But for some reason flesh rebels against command.
Anytime you pick up the weight-the problem -the need of another person, you will find that it is a heavy load. Don’t ever be duped into thinking that ministry of this type that Christ wants all Christians to apply is easy. Genuine and effective ministry to another person is always a great challenge. But it calls for willingness and commitment
These four men decided that they will carry their friend to Jesus. Don’t just carry people to church carry them to Jesus?

Be sensitive

You must be sensitive to a person’s need so as to carry it. In any church service you are in there is someone close to you who is lying on a ‘stretcher’ on the inside. He/she is emotionally or spiritually paralysed. He may act as if he has his life together but he knows he is putting it up. He knows he has a need but he may have trouble telling you. Don’t be deceived by the prayers he prays when others are listening. When he is alone he is praying differently. He cries in his room alone but when he appears in church or in town he puts up a facade. Don’t be deceived by his fancy clothes, big smile, his denomination, his status in society or even the colour of his skin. On the inside he/she is crying ‘Help!’
How long shall we look on unconcerned while our brother suffers in silence? We have to overcome the press and the roof of gossip, backbiting, illwish and all forms of insensitivity and rather show love without pretence. How many of you since you heard of that brother’s problem or that sisters case have genuinely prayed to God for her…carried her to Jesus in prayer? Instead we have told people even unbelievers. You did not hear that story to publish it! You heard it so you can carry it to God in prayer. He is hurting, he is out of control, and he is paralysed in some way. He /she can’t share it because there is no love in the church these days. People in church cannot be trusted. As soon as they hear your story instead of them to carry it in prayer they rather gossip about it. As you read this I challenge you to be a real Christian who walks in love. If the case is about your real blood brother or sister will you handle it the way you are handling that brother’s case? In church we are a family of God united by one blood- the blood of Christ. The unsaved world will not be attracted to Christ till we walk in love towards one another. Jesus said if you Love one another then the entire world will know that we are his disciples. You need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit so as to know and help.

Pay the price

Don’t pick up another person to drop him. If you cannot fend for the bird don’t cage it! Be willing to pay the price. These four men were willing to destroy someone’s roof to get their brother to Christ. They were ready to pay a price financially and physically. They gave their time. If you commit to bring someone to Christ be sure to bring him all the way to him no matter the cost. Most of the time we only want people delivered if it’s easy and convenient. We don’t want to sacrifice to bring deliverance. but let me assure you that to carry the burden of ministering to a drug addict, a prostitute, a murderer, someone in need of a child, someone in grief, an abused wife/husband, the homeless, jobless etc till they get to Christ and be whole completely is not an easy task. It calls for an investment of time, resources, prayer and all kinds of support coupled with a large heart of patience. It involves name calling and sometimes embarrassment but you need to despise the shame and help. You must understand that nothing great is achieved without pains and labour. Let this be your labour of love. And as you carry him, hold him steadily and tightly and reassure him till you bring him close to the touch of Christ’s power. The Good thing about this is that once you get a man to Jesus you no longer have to carry him. Jesus takes over from you as it happened in this case. But above all after the touch of Jesus this man was able to stand on his own unaided and he walked back home. The hurting man wants you to carry him to the one who will meet his need. May our church be a place of love and trust so we can give confidence to hurting hearts to be able to freely share their challenges knowing well that they will receive help!
I call on you to ask God to forgive you for your insensitivity in the past and give you grace to carry someone’s burden today remembering that the seed of love you sow today will be rewarded in the future either to you directly or to your descendants yet unborn.

Be a life saver, a soul winner, a family healer and a community changer!
I love you,

Rev.James Hansen-Sackey