The Rev. Herbert G. Hand
Faith Anglican Church
Cordova, Tennessee
July 8, 2007
Series: Serving One Another
Title: Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
Text: Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18
I. Creating Burdens
Wearing the Flax Shirt
In Booker T. Washington's autobiography, Up from Slavery, he told the story of how his older brother bore his burden.
On the plantation, all the slaves wore shirts made of a rough, bristly inexpensive flax fiber.
As a young boy, Book T. Washington had very sensitive skin.
His flax shirt was so abrasive to his tender sensitive skin that it literally rubbed him raw.
His older brother noticed his suffering, and decided to do something about it.
Whenever Booker T. would get a new shirt, his older brother would wear the shirt until his own flesh had caused it to become smooth.
Booker T. said it was one of the most striking acts of kindness he had experienced among his fellow slaves.
James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) p. 117.
His older brother personified our reading from Galatians 6:2:
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
Booker T. Washington’s brother carried his burden.
The Purpose of Galatians
Why did St. Paul write his letter to the Galatians?
He wrote to the believers in Galatia to free them from the burden of legalism.
Two weeks ago I shared with you from Galatians chapter three, one of the primary purposes of God’s law:
To lead us to Christ, not to burden us.
Last week John Scott shared with you from Galatians chapter five, about the dangers of legalism.
The Danger of Legalism
In the first century, legalism was a huge problem, both in Judaism and in the developing Church.
Legalism is all about placing unbearable burdens on others. It has nothing to do with "carrying each other’s burdens."
These legalists burdened God’s people with a ridiculous load of laws no one could or should keep. As John Scott mentioned last week, on the Sabbath day, they forbid you to carry:
"food equal in weight to a dried fig, enough wine for mixing in a goblet, milk enough for one swallow, honey enough to put upon a wound, oil enough to anoint a small member, water enough to moisten an eye-salve, paper enough to write a customs house notice upon, ink enough to write two letters of the alphabet, reed enough to make a pen..."
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=604 -- Barclay
In Luke chapter 11 Jesus described these legalists. He said,
"And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."
Luke 11:46 (NIV)
They loaded them down with more and more and more man-made laws, but refused to help them keep God’s laws.
As they did with Jesus and Paul:
Legalists revel in your failures.
They rejoice in pointing out your sins.
II. Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
Unlike religious legalists, Jesus never revels in your failures. He never enjoys pointing our your sins.
The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery
In John chapter eight, the legalists of the day – the Scribes and the Pharisees – brought a woman to Jesus who had been caught in the act of adultery.
Of course it takes two to commit adultery. These legalists chose to point out the woman’s sins, hoping to condemn her to death. The stones were in their hands.
But they conveniently chose to gloss over the man’s sin; he was probably a buddy of theirs.
You see, legalists use God’s Law to their advantage and to other’s detriment.
Not only were these legalists tying to kill the woman, they were trying to condemn Jesus as well. So they said,
"In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
John 8:5 (NIV)
6
...But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.What was he writing?
Possibly their sins.
7
When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them,"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
9
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.Jesus had exposed their hypocrisy.
He had exposed their sins.
He had exposed the fact, that just like the woman before them, they too needed help in turning from their sins.
But instead of staying to help the woman find freedom from her sins, these legalists stomped away in embarrassment and rage.
Legalists love to point out the sins of others, but they hate with a passion to have others pointed out their sins.
They rarely accept correction, no matter how gentle you give it.
Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
Our reading from Galatians chapter six gives a much needed correction for legalists and.... a commandment for all believers.
Please open your leaflet or Bible to Galatians 6:1-2:
1
"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin,"Like the woman caught in adultery.
Like Paul catching Peter in hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11).
Or like you or me realizing someone is caught in the web of sin.
"if someone is caught in a sin," what should we do?
The second part of verse one says,
"...you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Restore him:
Not condemn him.
Not stone him to death.
Not talk about him behind his back.
Restore him. Restore him gently.
In the original Greek language of the New Testament, the word "restore" is the same word used:
For a carpenter repairing furniture.
For a doctor setting a bone.
Or for a surgeon curing the body.
(Barclay)
When someone is caught in sin, like a doctor, we must help restore them to wholeness, and we must do it gently, we must do it as painlessly as possible.
Your goal must not be to make yourself feel superior, not to make things worse for the other person, but to rescue them from disaster.
Verse two shows us how to restore those caught in the web of sin. He says,
2"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)
If, as we read in last week’s reading from Galatians chapter five, you truly, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you will carry each other’s burden’s, not add to them (Galatians 5:14).
The 100 Yard Dash
Several years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine physically or mentally challenged athletes, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash.
As the starting gun rang out, they all trotted down the track with great enthusiasm.
Unfortunately, one little boy stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went backY Y every one of them.
One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,
"This will make it better."
Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line.
Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.
These children grasped what many adults fail to understand.
Life is more than winning.
Life is more than beating the competition.
We "fulfill the law of Christ":
When we are more concerned for others than we are for ourselves.
When we help others win.
When we "carry each other’s burdens."
The Unknown Hero of Everest
In 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to conquer the summit of Mount Everest.
Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, over 29,000 ft.
During the warmest month of the year, the average temperature on Mount Everest is two below zero. Temperatures can drop to 100 below zero.
Winds on the summit have reached 177 miles per hour.
Mount Everest is an unforgiving environment.
The only way to survive is with the help of your hiking companions.
Last year British mountaineer, David Sharp, made it to the summit, but roughly 1,000 feet into his descent he collapsed. He was starving for oxygen. He needed help.
But to the horror of people around the world, dozens of those hoping to make it to the summit, passed him by, rather than miss their chance of making it to the top.
You see, an Everest ascent is very expensive – tens of thousands of dollars:
Some of the hikers who passed him by were more concerned with preserving their investment, than they were in saving his life.
Some of the professional guides who passed him by were more concerned with their reputation for getting their clients to the top, than they were for David Sharp’s life.
Tragically, David Sharp died all alone on that mountain.
"Sir Edmund Hillary...called it ‘horrifying’ that climbers would leave a dying man."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12953241/
Back in 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary first conquered Mount Everest, helping each other was not an option! Everyone knew you had to help each other if you were going to survive.
In fact, if it hadn’t been for his Sherpa guide, Tenzig Norgay, Hillary would not have made it back alive.
Climbing Mount Everest is only half the challenge.
Descending Everest’s steep ice-glazed slopes is just as dangerous, if not more so.
On the way down, Hillary fell, and slid off the side of the mountain.
He was roped together with Tenzig Norgay.
Norgay, was exhausted from the ascent. He could have cut the rope to guarantee his own safe return, but he didn’t.
At great personal risk, and pushing his exhaustion to the limit, he pulled Sir Edmund Hillary back up to safety.
When someone asked Norgay why he didn't brag about saving Hillary, he simply said,
"We mountain climbers help each other."
Calvin Miller, "From Entertainment to Servanthood," Preaching Today, Tape No. 132.
II. Conclusion
Sadly, there are those in the church, who at times have acted like those climbers and guides who left David Sharp to die.
They’ve looked down on those caught in sin and passed them by.
They’ve thought it not worth the effort to get involved.
Some have even reveled in their fall, seeing themselves as superior.
They’ve refused to reach out and help them back to wholeness and holiness.
But thanks be to God, there are those in the church, who have acted like Tenzig Norgay.
With great effort and great exhaustion, they have helped the fallen back to safety, back to wholeness and holiness.
As our reading in Galatians 6:1 says, "those who are spiritual" – those who are spiritually mature – should "restore" those who have fallen, and they should do it "gently," with great humility.
Like with Tenzig Norgay, let others question us on why we would help someone who has fallen, and let our answer be:
"We Christians help each other."
We "Carry each other’s burdens..." (Galatians 6:2).
When "someone is caught in sin, we will "restore him gently" (Galatians 6:1).