The Three "Bears”

The Bible tells us also about these THREE “BEARS”.

The first BEAR deals with our BEARING the burden of a brother. That is-

I. WE "BEAR" THE BURDENS HE CAN NOT BEAR

Look at Galatians 6:2, we read, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

The Bible makes it clear that as Christians we all have a responsibility to BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS!

When we do this we are FULFILLING THE LAW OF CHRIST. WHAT IS THE LAW OF CHRIST? The law of Christ is the law of ministering in LOVE.

In Matthew 20:28, we read, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

This was the ministry of Christ and now he has called us to do the same.

And the Word of God tells us in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

We are to carry on the BURDEN BEARING MINISTRY OF THE LORD.

The burden bearing in this scripture verse is in present tense, which denotes continuous action, not simply a one-time act.

How are we to BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS?

A. SOMETIMES IT IS SPIRITUAL

Look at James 5:19-20, we read, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

Notice, it says, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth…” That is, it is always a possibility.

Illus: A man that attends a church that teaches a false religion said, “Half of our church members are people who at one time attended Baptist churches, Assembly of God churches, Church of God churches, and etc.”

Listen, that should not surprise us. The Word of God teaches that it is possible for a person to ERR FROM THE TRUTH. But it is our job as Christians to go out and CONVERT them back to the truth.

Why should we do this?

(1) First, because our love for them compels us to do so.

(2) Secondly, because if we do not, the Christian who has erred has placed himself at the risk of death.

Look at James 5:20, we read, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death.”

Illus: Paul wrote to the Corinthians, who had erred in many ways. But one of the ways they had erred was in the Lord’s supper.

Because many had erred in their teachings concerning the Lord’s supper, Paul told the Corinthians, in 1 Cor. 11:30, “FOR THIS CAUSE many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

In other words, they died! It is a dangerous thing for a child of God to err, and Paul said because of that, some had become SICKLY, and some had DIED!

When our brother in Christ ERRS, we are to help him.

BUT, NOTICE WHO IS TO HELP HIM.

Look at Galatians 6:1. We read, “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.”

The Bible says that those who are to assist Christians who have erred, are those in the church who are SPIRITUAL.

And it does not mean if you just think you are spiritual, you are qualified. If you are going to help someone who is weak in the faith, they need to have confidence in you and know that you are spiritual.

There are some folks who, if they tried to assist some that have erred, would not be affective because the person that they are talking to has no confidence in their Christian life.

We are to assist the WEAKER BRETHREN WHEN HE FALLS SPIRITUALLY. We have to become a “Crutch” he can lean on until he gets where he can stand on his own again.

But not only should we BEAR the burdens of our brother SPIRITUALLY-

B. SOMETIMES IT IS FINANCIAL

In this age, when we see panhandlers all over the place begging for money, we reach the conclusion immediately that someone who asks for help is trifling.

But there are people who need financial assistance, and it is not because they are too lazy to work.

• They can’t go to the bank, because with their income the bank would consider them a poor risk.

• They can’t go to their friends, because their friends are as poor as they are.