The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 6:1-9, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

We all live among people who do wrong. They live in our towns; they may even live on our
street. How are we to respond? Are we to whisper behind our neighbor’s back, sowing
discord among our neighbors? No, we are to help bear their burden to the limit of our ability.
We might someday find ourselves in the same situation.

By definition, a burden is something that is thrust upon us. It is a ????? baros, a weight of any
source. It may not be something we excitingly desire to do, but we are to help. Someday, we may find ourselves in the same need. Besides, we have been taught the Word of God in order that we may share it with others. When we do, we are honoring our Father.

Let’s suppose a neighbor, due to adversity in his family, comes up short on a payment he is
required to meet. He would view that as a burden. At the same time, while under no obligation
we decide to help him. It would be viewed as a cross to us in that we willing elected to come to his need. Paul says that by this act we are fulfilling the law of Christ.

At the same time, if we view ourselves proudly in this act, it is truly self-deception. We will surely
in time discover that we owe all the glory to God. For it is He who has enabled us to perform
good on our neighbor’s behalf. Anytime we do good for another, it comes from the Spirit of God, Who resides within us. Therefore, we owe all the glory and praise to Him alone!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom