Galatians 6:1-5
1 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.
What seems to be a surprise to many in our world has really never been any different. Which is, that humanity is frail at it’s very best and God is always good. What can be disheartening to me is that when there is a failure in a person’s life of any kind, there will always be a grandstand of persons who will reach out to bring more hurt to an already bleeding experience. Now, let me be clear, I do expect this from the humanistic society that finds strength in a “told you so” and “they deserve that.” But what I never expect, is when the spiritual (or so they claim to be) stand out with harsh accusations and instead of coming to the side of a fallen soul to pick them up, they stand near to bring further hurt and disparity to the individual and worse, to the family. Have we forgotten the families in these matters? To those who would engage in the pointing and hurling of hurt, has the issue of a spouse or children ever come into consideration?
Paul says, “You who live by the Spirit” or KJV says, “You who are Spiritual restore that person gently.” Here is the hook, he says because YOU could also be tempted. Watch it when throwing hurts and negative accusations. Jesus wept over sin. He wept over Israel when she ignored Him. When is the last time you wept over another person’s failure, wept over someone’s fault? Galatians 6:5 says, “Carry your load.” That word is “Phortion” which insinuates that part of what we are to carry is the “burden” (vs.2) or “Baros” of our fallen friend.
Let’s lift people today and not tear down. When you and I do, then we are led by His Holy Spirit.