Rom. 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. Aug. 8, 2008
I heard a story some time back about some young men that had gone off to boot camp, and the last thing they had to do before graduating was run ten miles in full gear, boots, helmet, rifle, and backpack. They were all doing fine until the last couple of miles, it was at that point that one of them men started lagging behind. His buddy on the right reached over and took his rifle from him and carried it along with his own gear. This helped for another mile or so, but then the man began to fall behind once again, this time his buddy on the left reached over and took his helmet and carried it along with his own stuff. The weaker man ran with renewed vigor until the last half mile when once again he began to stumble and almost collapsed from exhaustion, the two men behind him then relieved him of his backpack and continued to run bearing his excess weight along with their own. The entire unit finished the course together.
When you think about it all those other men could have finished that course, probably even faster than they did, if they hadn't helped the weaker soldier, but they knew that the unit was important then themselves. Christians ought to think this same way. I wonder what would happen if more people began laying down their luxuries, their comforts, and even their rights, in order to promote unity. If our churches were filled with Christians who were willing to forgo some of their preferences in order to bear the weaker brother's burden, what great things could be accomplished? The fact of the matter is, most people are so focused on what pleases them, they aren't willing to follow Christ's example and humble themselves in order to maintain unity and harmony among God's people. We live in the Burger King generation, that says "I want, what I want, when I want it." Most of the previous generations were raised to understand that the only way you could survive in this world was to give a little, take a little. In other words sometimes you got what you wanted, sometimes you had give in and let the other guy get what he wanted. Our current generation is being raised with no idea of responsibility or give and take. The psychologists have told us "If they don't get everything they want it might make them develop an inferiority complex, and if they don't get it right away they may fell emotionally neglected." The biblical perspective is right the opposite, it says you win some you lose some, and whenever you are able you ought to forget about yourself and help the unit.
I would challenge you, when you go to church tonight or next Sunday, to lay your preferences down, if required, in order for the church to grow in grace and unity. Reach over to that person struggling next to you and take his helmet, relive him of a little of his load, that the entire church would be a stronger more unified body, that could finish their course with joy.
I heard a story some time back about some young men that had gone off to boot camp, and the last thing they had to do before graduating was run ten miles in full gear, boots, helmet, rifle, and backpack. They were all doing fine until the last couple of miles, it was at that point that one of them men started lagging behind. His buddy on the right reached over and took his rifle from him and carried it along with his own gear. This helped for another mile or so, but then the man began to fall behind once again, this time his buddy on the left reached over and took his helmet and carried it along with his own stuff. The weaker man ran with renewed vigor until the last half mile when once again he began to stumble and almost collapsed from exhaustion, the two men behind him then relieved him of his backpack and continued to run bearing his excess weight along with their own. The entire unit finished the course together.
When you think about it all those other men could have finished that course, probably even faster than they did, if they hadn't helped the weaker soldier, but they knew that the unit was important then themselves. Christians ought to think this same way. I wonder what would happen if more people began laying down their luxuries, their comforts, and even their rights, in order to promote unity. If our churches were filled with Christians who were willing to forgo some of their preferences in order to bear the weaker brother's burden, what great things could be accomplished? The fact of the matter is, most people are so focused on what pleases them, they aren't willing to follow Christ's example and humble themselves in order to maintain unity and harmony among God's people. We live in the Burger King generation, that says "I want, what I want, when I want it." Most of the previous generations were raised to understand that the only way you could survive in this world was to give a little, take a little. In other words sometimes you got what you wanted, sometimes you had give in and let the other guy get what he wanted. Our current generation is being raised with no idea of responsibility or give and take. The psychologists have told us "If they don't get everything they want it might make them develop an inferiority complex, and if they don't get it right away they may fell emotionally neglected." The biblical perspective is right the opposite, it says you win some you lose some, and whenever you are able you ought to forget about yourself and help the unit.
I would challenge you, when you go to church tonight or next Sunday, to lay your preferences down, if required, in order for the church to grow in grace and unity. Reach over to that person struggling next to you and take his helmet, relive him of a little of his load, that the entire church would be a stronger more unified body, that could finish their course with joy.
Tis true that we so often behold our natural faces in the glass and goeth our way and straightway forgetteth what manner of men we are. We think ourselves of high esteem only to realize the we are as the flower of the grass that shall pass away. The duty of the child of God, however strange it may seem, is to encourage and edify his brethren and not only so, but the church as a whole. The soul in the assembly whom I would rather refrain I must instead prefer him and love him. Excellent considerations my brother.
ReplyDeleteThat was such a good story to help us see it in the right perspective! And not only should we think of bearing one another's burdens on Sundays, but throughout the week, when we want to do "our things, hobbies, etc.", we should think of others then too, as the church is not only a "Sunday" thing!
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