OVERCOMING LONELINESS: Burden Bearers
Galatians 6:1-3
HUMBLE COMMUNITY
“‘And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, “Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,” when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your
eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.’” —Matthew 7:3-5
“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be
in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” —Romans 12:3
GENTLE COMMUNITY
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and
, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” —Ephesians 4:29
“Always be
and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” —Ephesians 4:2
“It takes strength inside to be gentle on the outside.” —Wooden
LOVING, BURDEN-BEARING COMMUNITY
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as
have loved , you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” —John 13:34-35
“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” —Matthew 22:37-40
The principle of bearing one another’s burden refers to helping other Christians share each other’s load whenever temptations oppress us or life depresses us.
“Often the most loving thing we can do when a friend is in pain is to share the pain–to be there even when we have nothing to offer except our
and even when being there is painful to ourselves.” —M. Scott Peck
“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” —John 15:12-13