BEAR ONE ANOTHER!

‘Staked tomatoes’ photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash.

Any gardeners out there?  I’m sure that you install supports for plants that need it, like tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, acorn squash, blackberries, raspberries, and grapes. The list of plants that need support is rather lengthy.  According to Easily Grown Garden, ‘if you don’t support plants that require it, you’ll end up with deformed plants that will become more susceptible to disease and pests as it lies on the ground.  Even worse, you could end up with vines that grow on top of and choke out your other plants.’ 

I’m sure you’re aware of all of this, but did you ever ask yourself why God made plants that need support?  (See staked tomatoes photo above).  Isn’t it the perfect metaphor for the scriptural admonition from Galatians 6:2, to ‘bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ?’  The law of Christ being the second greatest commandment, ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ from Mark 12:31.

The following are more scriptures regarding ‘bearing one another’s burdens!’                                                     

”But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.’  1 Timothy 5:8.

‘If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?’  James 2:15-16.

‘Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.’  Romans 12:13

‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.’  Philippians 2:4.

‘So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.’  Galatians 6:10.

‘If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.’  
Proverbs 25:21-22.

God included a story in Exodus 17 to show us just how important ‘bearing one another’s burdens’ can be!!!

‘The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.  Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”  So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.
As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up  (They bore his burden)—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.’  Exodus 17:8-12.

‘By bearing Moses burden, (heavy hands), Joshua was able to defeat the Amalekite army with the sword!’  Exodus 17:13.

We were part of a small group and privileged to have a 90-year-old pastor, Paul, the father of our host attended our meetings.  He shared a wonderful, inspirational story of someone bearing his burdens.  When he and his wife attended bible college, they ran out of food and money.  They sat down for dinner as if they had something to eat and thanked God for the food.  They heard a knock on their door and when they opened it, there were several bags of groceries on the porch!!!  

Early in our marriage, my wife and I had a similar lean time and groceries were scarce.  A friend of ours showed up at our house in his 1956 Lincoln Continental!  Do you have any idea how big the trunk of those old cars was?  It was full of groceries!  This gift certainly relieved our burden of wondering where our next meal was coming from!

I’m sure you remember the story from 1 Kings 17 about Elijah and the widow at Zarephath.
Talk about a burden, she was about to make her last meal for herself and her son and die when Elijah showed up!  Instead of dying, she made a meal for Elijah and the jar of flour and the jug of oil did not run dry according to the word of God spoken by the Prophet Elijah.

Not only that, but her son become ill and died.  Speaking of being burdened, Elijah bore her burden and raised him from the dead.!!!  God saw her burden and sent Elijah!

And of course, Jesus is our main burden bearer!  He said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’  Matthew 11:28-30.

As you recall the warning from Easily Grown Garden, ‘If you don’t support plants that require it, you’ll end up with plants that will become more susceptible to disease and pests as it lies on the ground…’.  And so it is with those who are burdened!  Find out who they are through your church, a word from God or getting to know your neighbors and help ease their burdens.  It is, as I’ve tried to show you, of critical importance!

BE A BURDEN BEARER!