Bearing Each Other’s Burdens |Galatians 6:1–10, Eccl 4:9-12 Compassion and accountability in community

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New International Version

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Galatians 6:1-10  NIV Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

SERMON – this was the basic gist of the sermon – but I adlibbed a lot and added some descriptive visual descriptions in exciting language….

I sat in a neighbor friend’s home in the Halloween aftermath where the kids spread and sorted all their candy – you can imagine this visual – it was amazing flashback to not just my kids when they were younger – but also my own. Trading candy – big piles of resees and M&M types. I felt welcomed and this house was classic “lived in” with LOVE – toys and goodies everywhere –  yes that ALSO reminded me of my house when my kids were little…  And even though I have helped others declutter, organize, discard, etc., my house too is “Lived in”…  But last week, my youngest asked if we could clean up the house, he’s going to have friends coming over next week, so of course, I was excited to hear about that he was wanting to help get the place in order. And well, we got down to work last week…  It is always better to have a buddy in any adventure like that – motivating…  But it turned out the first thing he wanted to work on was the entrance way and the family room and honestly, oh rats, 95% of that is my “junk” – which is not junk of course – just needed organizing – and the plants on that windowsill – ugh overgrown and out of hands…  It all needed some TLC and not ignoring it anymore… And I have a GREAT 16-slot storage shelf from IKEA with bins, but no labels and not efficiently packed. So we dug in and I worked hard in both being forced to reconcile my messes – looks great now – new labels and everything. I kept finding craft rocks that said “FOCUS” – yup.

I mean, we talk about helping others we also sometimes (often) have got to look at ourselves where WE need help and trust me it was a VERY productive time, humbling, having to answer to: “What’s this box? What’s this stuff?” And of course, I had an answer for everything (even if I kept my mouth shut sometimes, LOL). And he would just put the box in front of me and I would have to sort it out. Trust me, I really needed to do this and it is great. And now I have organized buckets of crafts, buckets of our shoes and then buckets of VHS just tapes that we can’t seem to get rid of and of course more craft items. And then there’s now two things of tote bags and 2 containers of table gloss and party supplies, cookbooks etc. And then that one bucket that I said, well, it’s like a miscellaneous collection with old cell phone chargers and old 35 mm slides from when I was a kid and well “miscellaneous”, and I was VERY relieved when my youngest had compassion on me and said “just label it miscellaneous and move on”. It was like the mercy I needed at that moment not to have to decide how to sort it and label it. I got the pass – whew…

And I started thinking about how the Lord is very firm in his commandments and His truth. He is there to help us know what to do in situations known and unknown – even it if is simply keep looking towards Him – day by day – sometimes moment by moment! I know that examining our lives is a real deal piece of work – and yet the Lord has such great compassion on us, for we are human, humans with lots of human traits. And He reminds us not to store our treasures here on earth. And SO, then and when it comes to that box of miscellaneous, I am not just talking about stuff but about life experiences and well all our random thoughts, all the “LIFE STUFF” we don’t know what to do with – all the burdens we bear and can’t seem to shake –  Yes, Put it in MISCELLANEOUS – and let the Lord help as the Lord says to give Him our troubles, let Him carry them, let Him comfort you… And all our mess or miscellaneous – He sorts it with us – and we can rely upon Him to take out the trash. He does want to help us  – and we are not to wallow in the wash up…

The writer of the Lamentations (it is thought to be prophet Jeremiah) wrote about the times the Israelites were emotionally and physically seeing tough times being put into exile by way of the Babylonians – the Lord said there are going to be challenging times and yet I am with you – I have a plan to give you a future.  The Lord HAD compassion for that community, and the Lord does not change – He is full of compassion and slow to anger. He told the people to continue to thrive – live lives – do good – GROW – prosper – even in exile. The writer of Lamentations (chapter 3: 20b-26, 31-33) would state that the Lord’s mercy is real.

“…my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”   

AND

“For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”

IF the Lord has compassion for us – we can have this for each other. And like my kid had truly a blend of mercy and compassion to come alongside me in my clutter and ALSO help me by presence and help, we can do that for others – just be there and work it out alongside.

And well I had a time when I had little kids and overwhelmed as a working mom – and a woman (M…) came over to my house and just sat on the floor with me and we decluttered a hundred toys that had overwhelmed me for sure – we started in one corner and just whew…  Yeah it helped! Another time my dear friend (Miss B) came over and spoiled my kids so I could go out on a date night – and well, when I got home she had done all my dishes too – I was overwhelmed to the point of tears because I needed that help.

Actually there are so many opportunities in our community come alongside us and we alongside them.  Bearing our burdens. Being help. I have heard many many people with adult children say they don’t want another trinket or things like that as a gift – they would love their children to come over and JUST HELP THEM –  help them put things up for a holiday – or be able to just sort something or tidy up the yard. It is TIME shared which is valued…  And yes TIME which we wish we had with folks. It is TIME and helping someone carry their burdens, even if man-made. Yes, could be time spent with someone in a doctor’s office, time having a cup of tea together, time just knowing that someone is there.  Last night wow the wonderful fire pits just around my big block were 7 that I counted and warmed up next to on my walk after most of the trick or treaters were done – I thought it was wonderful and neighborly… If we know our neighbors we can help them – bear their burdens and our burdens theirs.

Our scriptures this morning are all about helping and also of Bearing Each Other’s Burdens – for Compassion and accountability in COMMUNITY – this starts with our own community – our local neighbors – our homes – and expands out from there to the world – I keep bringing up the “think Globally – act Locally”.             

Eccl 4:9-12 “⁹ Two are better than one,  because they have a good return for their labor: ¹⁰ If either of them falls down,  one can help the other up.” – We have seen this in our lives – in our neighbors – in community building. And a reminder that we need to know to not try to go it alone. Know Jesus is always with us.

The Ecclesiastes scripture pertains to many many pairings 2 is better than one – ¹² Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I have once heard that the cord of three strands is you and me and Jesus – and yes a cord of three strands is not quickly broken…  Withstanding pressure in situations and in life is standing in the presence of God – being humble in His plan. And when we realize that we need the Lord for His grace and mercy – we come closer to Him – and WITH HIM in our mix, we then realize we can help others – we know that ^“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Galatians 6 scripture this morning strengthens our resolve to know that the Lord has an action plan – and He means business – and wants us in this work of community business (this is Paul writing to the church there): “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

There is so much to unpack in just these 2 lines – one is we don’t turn blind eyes to others sinning or being destructive – AND we also don’t give in too much that we start being tempted doing what they are doing – Like – Hey that is the “norm” – or Hey they got away with it”… Wow we need Jesus to stand with us and keep us a safe distance here but also to stretch out those LONG arms of Jesus to help.

But DO HELP – carry burdens – Jesus said when someone asks you to walk one mile – go two.

In the scripture, “the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” – well, I know that the Lord appreciates our PRAISE – if we learned from Jesus how to help – how to even turn the other cheek -well we can thank HIM for being that strength IN us – for being alongside us to know that HE is in our helping – in our rolling things off our backs – in our burden carrying. Paul would write to the Corinthian church “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

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Our burden carrying of others comes from our selves being helped by God – God our Father in taking care of us – God our brother and our Lord in Jesus in loving us side by side – God in our Holy Spirit in helping move us.

And then there is sometimes trouble that is much more difficult to deal with – in community – well – we all know trouble – and we are trouble adverse – but God – God sees everything…. Our scripture reminds us: 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

YES – GOD SEES OUR TIMES OF PLEASING OUR OWN COURSE OF ACTION AND THE PITFALLS – IN EVERYTHING – HOW MANY ACCIDENTAL “oops” WE JUST BARELY AVOID BECAUSE WE ARE NOT 100% PAYING ATTENTION – OR WHEN WE FAIL TO BE COMPASSIONATE OR JUST ARE DOWNRIGHT SNIPPY AND OF COURSE WHEN WE ARE TRULY OUT OF LINE – DOES SOMEONE COME TO US AND GIVE US GRACE AND MERCY? (Allows us that “MISCELANEOUS” moment YES – THE LORD DOES – SO we are best to kneel at the cross in humbled thankfulness that He forgives us – and understand others more – and help…

And so IN COMMUNITY – we have compassion but we also have direction. Jesus Himself said (this is from Matthew) ¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’  – YES, take that second cord of a partner – and for sure the third cord of Jesus in the mix – and stand strong with both of Them – someone SOME ONES to temper your anger.

And God also has said over and over – “let ME handle this judgement and punishment” – you just turn some other cheeks and keep moving – let me handle it – God always has a bigger and better plan than us – and it is not right for us to wish God’s punishment when God is full of mercy – slow to anger – yes that would help us too to keep our thinking heads together and work out a situation…

Have you ever been in a situation and there was a misunderstanding? Well, instead of letting it stew, how about getting a mediator – yes we have seen that help SO MANY TIMES – one to diffuse the anger and get the stories straight – one to work on an immediate solution – and one to make a bridge going forward to the future – isn’t that like us and another and Jesus –to help us – to get a plan together – to be there through the whole process.

When we add Jesus to our mix, we can move forward.

And our last bit of the scripture – for in community and for the world:

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

There is a reason that God gives us rest and helps us with a fresh start each day – tells us to NOT worry about tomorrow but to work in today – and we HAVE compassion to share – and we are told to NOT GIVE UP – remember that we do have an opportunity to help – Jesus is STILL WITH US EVEN WHEN OUR CORDED STRANDS ARE BEING STRAINED. Jesus is with us when we go out to do His work with Him. Jesus is with us when others help us. God can not be absent from a situation – He knows – He acts – He loves.

I have not read the book, but the Pope was interviewed about what are his books that shaped his life and he said one was “The Practice of the Presence of God” – about being aware that God is here. We know that would help us.

There are many parables of Jesus coming for the lost for the wandering – whether it is children or sheep or people who just need help – Jesus said (also from Matthew) – ¹² “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³ And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

We might be the hands and feet of Jesus in a certain situation and also be those eyes and ears – we hear – we see – we can act in little random and not random acts of kindness…  It is not random when the Lord puts it in front of us – nudges us to act. We can help be the sheep dogs rounding up sheep before they stray and I will remind us all that we DO have comfort from Jesus – that we ARE able to keep our community together when we all pitch in.

Jesus has come after each of us with His Grace and Mercy – we can help others and feel that compassion for them.

One more set of trick or treaters was “reverse trick or treators” where the young men handed out copies of the Gospel of John – a very wisdom-rich book – and in it (as I am in another bible study) we are looking at John 6 – “I am the Bread of Life” Jesus said, and well, we too can partake in this hope – as Jesus wants us to share with Him in remembering…

AMEN (and move into communion service)

SO it is natural for us IN this communion with Jesus on His mission – to commune together in remembering HIM – this is His gift of remembrance – JESUS GIVING SO MUCH OF HIMSELF – including the act of knowing where to look for Help – Whom to PRAISE

SO Friends – Jesus himself invites us to his table, but the apostle Paul advises us to examine ourselves before we come unthinking to the Lord’s table. So let us pray:

Gracious and loving Lord, as we prepare to come to your table, we come remembering in humility the boundless love that brought us here. And we confess how often we have failed to reflect the love that was shown to us – failed in our actions, in our words, even in our thoughts…

we have both done things we ought not to have done and we have left undone those things we ought to have done. We ask forgiveness through the intercession of our Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself on our behalf.

Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us, so that we might offer the worship, service and praise that brings honor to you. Have mercy on us and forgive us for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ – Amen. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

This is the joyful feast of the people of God! People will come from east and west and from north and south to sit at table in the kingdom of God. At this, our Lord’s table, all who trust him are invited to share the feast he has prepared for us. Any baptized believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is welcome to receive this sacrament, regardless of denomination or church background.

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(While breaking bread) – The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, Take and eat; this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.

(While lifting the cup). In the same way, after supper our Savior took the cup, saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins; all of you, drink of it, in remembrance of me.” As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you do show the Lord’s death and resurrection until he comes.

+++++++++++   ASK FOR HELPER AND SERVE COMMUNION

THEN After communion

Prayer. Gracious God, we thank you for this meal shared in the Spirit with your Son Jesus, who makes us new and strong, who brings eternal life. May we who have received this bread and this cup live in the unity of your Holy Spirit, that we may be the expression of your love to all the world. Send us out in peace and grant us the strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Benediction

One more visual – think of all that candy spread all over the floor – and think of the big piles of stuff and of life that we can slide into the MISCELLANEOUS box…  And where can we bring all these things – big piles – we can bring them to the cross – leave the with Jesus… And may remember Jesus all the time in our days and nights of helping others – to grow in wisdom to know what to do and when to do it – and be a bearer of burdens and the one who allows the grace and mercy of God to flow through us. And let us praise that the LORD allows us and strengthens us to keep going…   AMEN and have a great day being the church out in the community.