Every Christian's Legal Obligation

3203 Feeding One Another In Heaven

A man had just arrived in Heaven, told Peter how grateful he was to be in such a glorious place, and asked Peter to give him one glimpse into Hades in order that he might appreciate his good fortune even more. This Peter did.

In Hades he saw a long table extending as far as the eye could reach, laden down with the most delicious of all varieties of foods. But everyone around the table was starving to death. When asked for an explanation, Peter said, “Everyone is required to take food from the table only with four-foot-long chopsticks. They are so long that no one can reach the food from the table to his mouth, and therefore each one is dying of starvation.”

Quickly they returned to Heaven, and behold, the new arrival saw an identical table, laden down with identical foods, but everyone around the table was happy and well fed. Then he said to Peter: “With what do they take the food from the table?” and Peter answered, “Only with four-foot-long chopsticks.” At that the new arrival inquired: “Then why are all those in Hades starving to death while all those up here are so well fed and happy?” Whereupon Peter replied: “In Heaven we feed each other.”

—Harry C. Mabry1

1 Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 758). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

D. L. Moody once said, “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves.”12171

1 Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (p. 329). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Introduction:

The true gospel produces a certain kind of person. The gospel of Jesus Christ produces people who, though they are not perfect, they are progressing in Christ-likeness. All of this progression is by the Holy Spirit’s power, and part of this power is described as the power to bear the burdens of other brethren within the body of Christ.

It is impossible to know all that is happening in the lives of the brethren of the body of Christ, but we should know some things. Paul is commanding the Galatians believers to bear one another’s burdens, and so we should accept this as our imperative to obey as well. This is every Christian’s legal obligation, though it is a different law.

Imperative:

Bear ye one another’s burdens

This means we are

(1) Close though socially distant

This word bear is not too difficult to understand. The verb implies that you are in such proximity that you can shoulder the weight with the individual. The implication here is closeness.

Brothers and sisters, we should also bear one another’s spiritual burdens by helping one another in our soul-struggles. I am afraid that, in some places of worship, Christian men and women come up to the house of prayer, and go home again, without ever speaking to one another.1

1 Spurgeon, C. H. (1903). Burden-Bearing. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 49, p. 235). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

You see, when the false teachers brought in a gospel that included legal works, this also invited in a sense of division based on the ability to keep a law.

Legalism always breeds division, but the true gospel produces unity. It is this way because with the true gospel, we are free from trying to distinguish ourselves by our abilities. Our distinction is in Christ, so this allows us to get close to others. This kind of closeness is very threatening to someone who finds their self-worth in their own rule-keeping; hence, there is further separation. Only the true gospel can give security to someone so they can get close enough to be vulnerable and to bear.

(2) Compassionate though there is suffering

The word is easily misunderstood or we are easily biased in a certain direction because of our individual context (i.e. work, relationships, struggles...etc). Often, when we hear this verse, we immediately think of emotional, relational, or physical problems. Depending upon what is happening in your life currently, you may have a tendency to lean towards one of these as burdens that you have. The context of this passage and of Galatians may provide a little more clarity to this word.

There are three options to consider.

The suffering of sin-struggle

First, there is the likelihood that what Paul has in mind is the he has just addressed in Galatians 6:1. Though the word is different, it is certain that sin is a burden that people bear.

But, dear friends, to take our text positively, we can see that it must mean, first, that we are to have great compassion upon those who are bearing the burden of sin. You cannot bear the burden of their sins for them;—only Christ can do that;—but you can help them to bear their burden.1

1 Spurgeon, C. H. (1903). Burden-Bearing

The suffering of legalistic tendencies

Secondly, Paul may actually be addressing the “yoke of bondage” one final time (Galatians 5:1). The Judaizers were attempting to re-enslave the gospel-liberated Christians of Galatia.

The suffering that is emotional/physical

The third and final use of the term may be that Paul is using this in a broad or general sense about any weight that a brother or sister in Christ may have -- whether they be spiritual, emotional, or physical.

Of note, the burdens are those of others which is consistent with the produce of the gospel. The gospel produces others-oriented people. This others-orientation is in stark contrast to the ones who use others for their own benefit. (Galatians 4:17). This indeed is a burden with which we all struggle. It is really a sin of selfishness or, as Paul points out in Galatians 5:26, desiring “vain glory”....

Galatians 4:17 KJV 1900

They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

Galatians 5:26 KJV 1900

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

(3) Cautious because of self-conceit

Why would this have to be commanded (what prohibits it)? It is this desire for empty glory, this self-conceit, that requires Paul to give this kind of imperative. Though the Galatians are saved people, they don’t realize how un-self-aware they really are. When people begin to depend upon practices for their sense of distinction, they will be willing to use others for our own advancement. This is the idea with provoking and envying. This happens with gospel-professing Christians begin living by “another gospel”.

How do you know when you are in a relationship where there is self-conceit? You often know that this is the case because when you cease to be profitable to a vain-glorious person, they will discard the relationship as if it was meaningless. A feeling of being used is the result.

It is important to be aware of our sinful, carnal tendencies. Walking in the Spirit does not need to be some abstract practice. In this context, walking in the Spirit means that we are submitting to the Spirit of our adoption which has made us sons of God - a fixed status. This continual submission frees us from the need to use others for our own advancement. In so doing, we are able to bear one another’s burdens and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

(4) Compliant to the Law of Christ

3205 Apostle John’s Farewell

Tradition tells us that the aged apostle John, in bidding farewell to his congregation, admonished them to love one another.

“But, we want something new,” they said. “Give us a new commandment.”

John replied, “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning … that we should love one another!” (1 John 2:7; 3:11).1

1 Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 758). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.

What is the law of Christ. It is love. Galatians 5:13-14 shows us that all the law is fulfilled in one word -- love. The law of Christ is the law of love that is fulfilled as we lovingly serve one another.

Galatians 5:13–14 KJV 1900

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The way we can serve one another is by bearing one another’s burdens -- meaning that we can get close to others and help them shoulder the weight of sin, legalistic tendencies, health dilemmas...etc

A self-righteous man is not generally a man with a tender spirit. He looks at that which is hard and stern in the law, and he begins to be himself hard and stern; but there is none of the softness, and sweetness, and gentleness, and graciousness which even the law itself required1

1 Spurgeon, C. H. (1903). Burden-Bearing. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 49, p. 229). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Conclusion:

Bear ye one another’s burdens

This means we are

(1) Close though socially distant

Ask questions and listen

(2) Compassionate though there is suffering

With gospel-humility ask, “What is one sin/struggle I can pray with you about?”

With gospel-dependency approach a brother/sister in the body and ask them to pray with you re: specific fault/burden.

(3) Cautious because of self-conceit

Ask yourself, “What makes someone worthy of my approaching them?”

If you determination is based on whether they add value to your cause/life…you may need to repent of vainglory.

(4) Compliant to the Law of Christ

Romans 8:2 says “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”

The law of Christ is not only a law to be kept, but a law that you have been empowered to keep.

Ask yourself, “Am I using my freedom in Christ to serve myself or am I truly serving others?”

Learn to serve people spiritually - word edification, congregational singing

Learn to serve people emotionally - a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver

Learn to serve people physically - help them by giving of your labor/efforts

Learn to serve people socially - serve by listening well

In all of this, bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. This is every Christian’s legal obligation, though it is a different law.