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Burden-bearing.
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal. 6: 2).
"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please
ourselves" (Rom. 15: 1).
"Support the weak, be patient to all men" (I Thess. 5: 14).
The first thought is that of burden-sharing. Gal. 6: 2 does not exhort that the strong
should bear the burdens of the weak, but that each should bear the other's burdens. How
far do we respond to this? Perhaps our own burdens would be lightened if we thought
more of the burdens of others. A person may feel unwell and very sorry for himself, but
an accident to another, happening in his presence and demanding immediate help, will
usually enable him to forget his own troubles in the endeavour to share others which are
greater.
Some burdens are referred to as "infirmities" of the "weak", and, with regard to these,
those who are "strong" must remember that their strength is not for selfish ends but for
the common good.
Finally, burden-bearing must be accompanied by patience, and must be devoid of
self-pleasing; otherwise the service rendered will lose its spiritual value.
Ambassador, Apostle, Angel, Bondservant, Builder, Burden-bearer.--These
constitute the Christian's "A B C" of service. When they have been learned, we shall be
able to make further advance.
#6. Symbols of Service.
A calling, a cleansing and a committing.
pp. 216 - 218
We have seen that none can truly serve who have not been sent, and that none can
truly build unless occupied with God's building. We are now to learn the related truth
that no man takes office of himself:--
"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was
Aaron. So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest" (Heb. 5: 4, 5).
The servant of the Lord says, "Here am I, send me", but never, "Here am I, I'm
going".
The first symbol of service, then, is calling, and the apostle, whose office has already
been before us as that of a "sent one", is also a symbol of true service in that he is
likewise a "called one". "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle"
(Rom. 1: 1). Strictly speaking the words read, "a called apostle". In Rom. 1: 5, Paul