Another's Burdens
February 7, 1999
Dear Friends,
I had a very vivid dream one night this past week. The dream was about a brother in Christ with whom I have not been very close. The fact of the matter is that we have different views on just about everything except the most fundamental of Christadelphian doctrines. “Uncomfortable” might be an accurate description of our relationship with one another.
Anyway, in this dream, I was at this brother's house. During our discussion, this brother, with heaviness of heart, shared with me a terrible burden he had been carrying for years. It seems that he had lost a daughter whom I never knew. She had died when she reached the age of 17 years old. The part I remember in the dream is how much this loss had affected him and consequently, me. In the dream, I cried with this brother over the loss of his daughter. I never knew he had been carrying the weight of this loss all of these years.
The dream had such a powerful effect upon me that it woke me from my sleep. Even though I was now awake and knew that this brother had never lost a 17-year-old daughter, I was still deeply saddened. The thought entered my mind that I really did not know this brother well enough to know his burdens. Who knows what sufferings, what trials or what events have shaped his life? Suppose he did lose a daughter. Would it effect affect my approach to him? Would it make me more compassionate toward him? Would it bring us closer? Would I show more love toward him?
The truth is that we all have burdens and circumstances that have shaped our lives – for good or for bad. We are now the sum total of our life experiences to this point. It is true that some of those life experiences were choices we made. It is equally true that some of those experiences were forced upon us and were completely outside of our control. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, we are what we are.
We do not know all of the factors that have shaped others’ lives. We may know many of the factors that shaped the lives of those with whom we are closest. Yet, for those whom we know little or nothing about, we often make assumptions. When it comes to ourselves or our loved ones, we are compelled to consider all of the extenuating circumstances for our actions. We know all of the mitigating factors in our lives. Hence, we set one standard for ourselves and our friends and another standard for those with whom we are not close.
All too often, when it comes to brethren we like, we are more than glad to assume the best about them, to jump to their defense or to lighten their load. Unfortunately, when it comes to a brother or sister that we are not particularly fond of, we all too often assume the worst about them, do not jump to their defense and perhaps even further burden them. Are we justified in treating like this brethren for whom Christ died?
“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 – AV)
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit…make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Phil 2:1-3 – NIV)
Have a great week!
Comments»
AFAICT you’ve covered all the bases with this asnewr!