FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

THE BENEFITS OF A BURDEN BEARER
[Part I]

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1, 2
New King James Version

When we see the word “bearing,” it is usually being depicted in relationship to the cross. We sing songs like: Must Jesus bear the Cross Along. I have heard statements from pulpits that say, “If one is unwilling to BEAR A CROSS then they are deemed unfit to WEAR A CROWN.” Bearing has almost come synonymous with the cross, but Paul gives us something else to consider when it comes to bearing.

Paul wants us the believer to consider the bearing of burdens. When it comes to bearing burdens, there is a benefit in the church to have those who are sensitive to bearing another’s burden. One of the things that is critical to bearing one’s burden in the church is to see each other as siblings. Paul begins chapter 6 with the word “brethren.” This speaks to a brother and sister relationship/fellowship that we need to have with each other.

When God is our father, then that makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. This means that we are siblings because we have the same SPIRITUAL DNA. We have the blood of Jesus on our lives that connects us relationally spiritually. Burden Bearers understand that disowning a sibling is not an option when it comes to the blood of Jesus. It is understood that there will be times that our brother or sister may have said or done something that was not to our liking but our love for them overwhelms what we may not like about them.

• It is this love that Paul speaks of that God has for us, not because of us but in spite of us. Paul writes in Romans 5:8 that, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”

In other words, not after we have sinned and come to salvation but WHILE WE WERE SINNING, CHRIST DEMONSTRATES HIS LOVE TOWARDS US. This love that has been extended to us during the worst of times by Christ should be the same love that we need to show towards our brothers and Christ who we consider SIBLINGS.

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor