Bear One another's burdens

Romans 15:1-5

Intro.:
1. Some of you may know that I keep bees. The bee is one of the most interesting little creatures that I know, and although he is similar in-social life to the ant, I like bees because of their delicious honey. The bee is used as an object lesson in the Old Testament, and I would like to use it as an illustration in beginning this message. The hives revolves around the Queen. The Queen is fed a special diet called royal jelly. She is attended by young bees who can make this jelly on for a short period in their young life. The queen continues to lay eggs for the benefit of the colony and her own existence. Without the queen, the colony would die. The queen's existence means something for me. She will lay thousands of eggs in the peak season and there will be about 100,000 bees in a strong hive. Without the worker bees bringing pollen the queen will not lay eggs. Without the hive bees taking the pollen and working it into honey, the queen could not survive the winter. Without the guard bees, rodents, moths, And other creatures would destroy the hive for the honey. The hive is a place of mutual support. Each one depends on the other.

2. That same kind of model is what is involved in Paul's word to the church. There is an inter-relationship between members in the church. This sense of reciprocity is expressed in the idee that the strong are to bear the burdens of the weak. What is the weak person? It is not the physical strength that is involved. The word relates to error arising from weakness of mind. It is a weakness of will, also. If people do not think correctly about their Christian faith they will be doing wrong actions. If people can be encouraged in their knowledge, they may be encouraged in willing the right kind of life.

3. Over the years I have observed people who are not steadfast, who are enthusiastic in their Christian life until things go wrong. Their thinking is weak, their withdrawing is slow, but perceptible, and they sometimes become church tramps running from one to another, until they find some new source of encouragement. Our call as a church is to be here, faith, strong as we can be, ready to encourage, ready to serve. And as a result sometimes, ready to be used, exploited. But then is there every any real exploitation if you are serving the Lord?

4. Our basic verse of Scripture is to bear one another’s
burdens. This theme is emphasized by three different comments:

I. The Example of Christ. v. 3

1. v. 3. tells us that Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." The Psalm quote (69:9) refers to the Psalmist regard for the house of God. His zeal and enthusiasm for God's house brought reproaches from people who reproached God and his servant, the Psalmist. The word of Paul is that Christ Jesus did not please himself but God, and for this he was vilified and finally Crucified.

2. What is the example of Christ in which he did not please himself. Rethink the life of Jesus. He consorted with poor people, he worked with the sick, the lame, the blind, the twisted, the sinners, the prostitutes, the tax gatherers. He offended the rulers, the "right people of society", and he kept before himself the fact of the cross and redemption. Was there pleasure in this death? Was there pleasure in that motley group of despised people?

3. Contrast our dreams with Christ's life style. If I had money I wouldn't be interested in poor people. If I had prestige what would I want with a group of hangers-on? If I had the position of being a beautiful person, what would I need with the ugly, lonely people of the world? If Jesus were like so many people, there never would have been redemption. If God treated us like we treat him, could there have been a gospel? I think not!

4. Morris Ashcraft tells a little story he got from another man, about an official of the Canadian Pacific Railway who became lost while hunting in one of the Canadian provinces. After nearly freezing, the official stumbled upon a railroad belonging to his company . He assumed that by walking down the tracks, he would find a railroad station in which there would be a warm fire. He walked down the track until he found such a station but was disappointed to find that there was no fire in the stove. Angrily, he "went to the window behind which a lone attendant was working at a telegraph transmitter. He demanded to know why there was no fire in the waiting room. The attendant said, “Look, mister, I'm too busy sending telegrams to build fires." The official dashed off a quick telegram to the home office which read as follows: “I want you to dismiss and replace this man immediately. He handed it to the operated end said, "Send this message. “In a few moments the telegrapher walked into the cold waiting room with a bucketful of cold and an armful of kindling. The official said abruptly to him, "Did you send my telegram? The telegrapher responded, "Look, mister, I’m too busy building fires to send telegrams.”

5. When you are working for someone, your priority is to please not yourself, but the boss. The example of Christ is given to us as one example of one who pleased not himself, but his Father.
We are to bear the burdens of the weak and are not to please
ourselves.

11. The Example of Scripture. v.4.

1. Consider our scripture, "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” What does this refer to? The Soripture that Paul refers to is primarily the Old Testament. The book of Romans was written about 57,58 AD, before the New Testament had come into completion. The book of Romans has 74 quotations from the Old Testament. It becomes a source of strength and encouragement.

2. How does this come about? Consider the following: (1)
example. This morning one of the classes had a lesson on Daniel and as I heard some of it, there were remarks about wisdom, and other characteristics of Daniel’s life. I cannot help reading the Old Testament stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph without being moved by their examples of strength, weakness, and patience in waiting on God. The example of Jeremiah’s life is encouraging because he stood up to everyone in a way that was unpopular, trying, and sad for himself, but he did it because God commanded him.

(2) encouragement. When I have read the story of Elijah I am always thrilled and encouraged. But I am also taught concerning the matter of patience, God’ s working, and his answer to prayer.

(3) The Scriptures laid up in my heart give me a sense of steadfastness
If there is strength to be found anywhere, it will be in the study of the Scripture.

3. These scriptures were written for our encouragement, memorizing, and obeying, with regard to ourselves and our neighbors.. You will not be strong in bearing other’s burdens unless you have the motivation of God’s love.

Gladys Knowlton and her husband Derrick were ou walking near Eastleigh, Hampshire, Eng. They were nature buffs, enjoying the appearance of a variety of birds, a fox, a weasel, or a rabbit. They were walking up the steep hill and commented about the train tunnel in the distance. He said, "Funny how different the tunnel looks down here. Like the shadow of a mighty rock, he said absently quoting Scripture. Both of them were Christians but that comment jarred a line of thinking into her mind. She drooped the subscription to the Bible study quarterly for economy sake. Prices rising all the time, and although it wasn't much, the money could go elsewhere, and they could read the Scripture out of the Bible anyway. Derrick was faithful, but she came to reduce her Bible reading gradually to where there wasn't much of it. They climbed higher and came upon the tracks and remarked to one another that the tracks must have only recently been disused since they were not rusty yet. She commented that it was an old branch line to Portsmouth. "I noticed it a week or two ago on the map when I was looking for a village. There's a whole network of these lines around, all going to waste." Then for one incredulous movement they were frozen in their tracks. The ground vibrated under them and the air stirred around them. Suddenly, an express train came thundering out of the tunnel, barely a man's length away. It raced past, its speed sending a blast of warm air and choking dust into our faces and hair. After they regained their composure, she blurted out, "You almost went into the tunnel. You were standing there, only seconds before. you have must mistaken this for another line. "What a fool I was. To think I relied on my memory of a map I had seen weeks ago. What a fool." As they climbed, Gladys also began to think what a fool she had been. "To think I've been relying on the past too. How could I expect God's word to light my daily path when my only spiritual "map"was a few half -remembered words from a Bible passage I’d read weeks before.

4. This is the point of Paul. God's word is a daily aid to our Christian lives. It is for our encouragement, steadfastness, and encouragement.

III. The example of God's grace. 5

1. Bearing one another's burdens is related to God's grace and gift. This relates to living in harmony with one another. in accord with Jesus . How is this to be? I would suggest three possibilities:

(1) friendship. The church must be a place where people can meet friends who care. We can't meet all the needs of people. Grant that there are people too complex for the average church member. But we do need friends that can be trusted, can be turned to for counsel, and can be a source of joy, fellowship, fun, and companionship. Friendships is spontaneous, but it is a gift of God.

(2) prayer-help. Related to friendship is a prayer/helper. We seek to grow to a bigger and bigger membership that we do overlook the help and warm of a smaller group. The S.S. class, the small group is designed to give small group relationships. But we do fail in using these. If you are not doing anything like this, take some time out at the end or beginning, and build a prayer-relationship with your students. Find out if there are prayer concerns. Find out if there are burdens or problems that can be shared with the whole group. Take some time to pray for the person, the problem, and have a time of encouragement.

(3) Fellowship. We need to concentrate on welcoming people when they come. We need to help them sense our concern. We need to relate everyone to the larger fellowship of the church. Our church must display the graciousness of God. He has accepted us, let us be accepting and warm toward others.

2. Not too long ago a . story appeared in the RD's about a women who had everything going for her. She was married had a home, and the world seemed good. On the way home she was in an accident that tore up her face and body. When her husband came to visit in the hospital, he dropped his head in shame, and shortly thereafter divorced her. Her surgeon kept steady. He performed operation after operation on her. Little by little she regained a sense of beauty. Little by little they became attached to each other. Finally, the single surgeon asked for her hand in marriage. That is an example of grace. Grace reaches
down to the ugly, the maimed, the suffering, and stands by, helps, encourages, and restores. God calls us to that role and we who are strong are to bear with the failings of the weak.

Concl:
1. Our role of bearing one another's burdens is to reach the conclusion that with one voice we may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. This kind of life is our calling. Let's make it real as we encounter people here and outside of our fellowship.