BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2
INTRODUCTION:
We live busy lives. Work, school, church, gym etc. Interruptions. Do we see needs and meet them?
PHYSICAL
Pharaoh’s daughter has compassion on Moses Exodus 2:5-7 Key v6
And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
Shunammite woman’s care for Elisha 2 Kings 4:8-10
And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
Elisha’s gift of opportunity to bear a child in old age 2 Kings 4: 14-17
And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
Elisha heals dead son. 2 Kings 4: 20, 34-37
And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Samaritan binds the wounds of the man left for dead. Luke 10:33-35
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
RELATIONAL
Ruth goes with Naomi Ruth 1:16-18
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.18 When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
Ruth provides for Naomi Ruth 2:17-18
So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.18 And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.
Ruth is in the line of Christ. Ruth 4:13, 17-22
So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.
And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.18 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.
David and Jonathan 1 Samuel 18:1-4
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Financial
Women’s mite, she gave of her want Mark 12:41-44
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Spiritual
Barnabas and Paul, Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles Acts 9:27, 13:1-3
But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Jesus and the woman at the well John 4:3-42
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (4:9)
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (4:23-26)
Conclusion:
- Will you look for the needs that present themselves?
- Will you stop and help?
- Will you allow God to use you?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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