"Are you a Burden Bearer"
>
> Scripture Reading: Galations 6:1-5
>
> 6:1 - 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.
> 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
> 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
> deceiveth himself.
> 6:4 - But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing
> in himself alone, and not in another.
> 6:5 - For every man shall bear his own burden.
>
> v.1 “Fault” in the Gk. is the word “Paraptoma” - A false step, a
> blunder, error, mistake, wrongdoing. This is the word used for slipping
> into sin, rather than willful sin.
> We are then told, “Ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in a spirit
> of meekness............” This word “Restore” in Gk. is the word “Katartizo”
> is used of putting a dislocated limb into place or to mend.
>
> When a fellow Christian has made a false step, blundered, slipped into sin.
> What do we do? Kill the wounded Christian! NO!!! What we (the Spiritual -
> meek) do is restore that Christian who has been dislocated from the Body of
> Christ, put that spiritual limb back in place, mend that fellow Christian.
> Also “restore” the tense is the continuous present, suggesting this
> may involve a process of mending, thus we may need a lot patience and love
> to help this person.
>
> NOTE: We are NOT talking about a habitual sin, willful and unrepented of
> sin (that’s another subject), BUT rather a person who has slipped into sin,
> made a false step.
>
> Gal.6:2 - “Bear ye one another's burdens (baros), and so fulfill the
> law of Christ”.
> v.2 “Burden” in the Gk. is the word “Baros” - Denotes a weight
> or that which makes a demand on ones resources - It always suggest that which
> is heavy or burdensome.
>
> Now go to Gal.6:5 - “For every man shall bear his own burden (phortion)”.
>
> We see the word “burden” again but it is a different Gk. word “Phortion”
> which means - Something which is borne without reference to weight
> (See Matt. 11:30 Jesus said, “...My burden (Phortion) is light”).
>
> So in life there are 2 types of Burdens - Heavy burdens (Baros)
> and Light burdens (Phortion). God has told us to take care of our the
> light burdens (phortion) - verse 5, BUT God wants us (the Body of
> Christ) to bear the heavy burden (v.2) off a wounded, dislocated
> Christian. By doing so it says we “...fulfill the law of Christ.” (v.2)
> which I believe is to Love (see Gal.5:13, 14 & John 13:34, 35). Please keep
> in mind that even a light burden can become heavy to a Christian who has
> fallen and is out of Gods will in an area of their life.
>
> So if you know someone who may, so to speak have taken a “false step”, it
> may be time for those who are “Spiritual - meek” to take the necessary step
> to help in the process of restoring this fallen Christian. You’ll do this
> by walking in Love with that person, encouraging that person (taking them
> under your spiritual wings ), and of course praying for that person.
>
> On the other hand, if you know that you are that fallen Christian you need
> to find some “strong/spiritual/meek” Christian(s) to help you out of your
> fault “paraptoma”. That may be your pastor, Christian friend,
> accountability group, etc. On a positive note, just your knowing you have
> blundered and acknowledging it is a step in the right direction, for many
> times that fallen Christian is blind to/ignorant of his fault, which by the
> way is when the Body of Christ needs to step in (in love) and let that
> brother/sister know that they have taken a false step.
>
> May this word today encourage us to answer the call of being a “Burden
> Bearer” or to take the necessary steps to be free from a “false step” and get
> back on track with the will of God.
>