I. Introduction
In their book "The Sacred Romance" (Thomas Nelson), John Eldredge and Brent Curtis write:
"A 19th-century Scottish discus thrower lived in the days before professional trainers and developed his skills alone in the highlands of his native village, making his own discus from the description he read in a book. What he didn't know was the discus used in competition was made of wood with an outer rim of iron. His was solid metal and weighed three or four times as much as those being used by his would-be challengers. This committed Scotsman marked out his field the distance of the current record throw and trained day and night to be able to match it.?"For nearly a year, he labored under the self-imposed burden of the extra weight, becoming very good. He reached the point at which he could throw his iron discus the record distance and traveled south to England for his first competition. When he arrived at the games, he was handed the official wooden discus - which he promptly threw like a tea saucer, setting a new record, a distance so far beyond those of his competition that no one could touch him. For many years he remained the uncontested champion. Something in my heart connected with this story. So that's how you do it: Train under a great burden."
No one is more qualified to help another person than the one who has already experienced the same trial?
II. Interpretation of Text: Freedom from Spiritual Bondage?
A. Bear One Another’s Burdens (vv.1-5)?
1. Provide support in temptation (v.1)
a) This applies to those committing the sin as well as to those struggling with temptation
b) Gentleness: a.k.a. meekness–submissive, not seeking revenge
(1) Submissive to God’s will
(2) Teachable
(3) Considerate of others?
2. Realize this is Jesus’ command (v.2)
a) Depicted by Jesus’ condescension (Phil. 2:6,7)
b) Jesus explicit command: love on another as He has–this marks His disciples (John 13:34,35)?
3. On the one hand, don’t think too much of yourself (v.3)–Phil.2:4?
4. On the other hand, don’t minimize your experience (v.4)
a) “Test”–consider frankly what you’ve been through, good or bad
b) “Boast”–about what Christ has done for you, not what you have accomplished compared to others?
5. Remember you can’t “go through it” for someone else, you can only go with them (v.5)–this is about faithfulness?
B. Sowing and Reaping (vv.6-10)?
1. Be grateful to those who’ve invested spiritually in you (v.6)–this could refer to material things, but the context suggests fellowshipping in the gospel?
2. Expect your actions to return to you in kind (v.7)
a) Job 4:8: “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.”
b) Prov. 1:31-33: “Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
c) Hosea 10:12: “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.?
3. Expect your motivations to characterize your results (v.8)
a) Sin always corrupts and, when left unchecked, always makes a person progressively worse in character
b) Rom. 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
c) To “sow in the Spirit” is the same as “walking by” the Spirit
d) John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”?
4. Focus on the harvest (v.9)
a) Philippians 3:13-15: “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”?
5. Do right by everyone: not for how they’ve treated us, but for the reward we’ll get (v.10)
a) There is no way to “pay back” in evil; we all know returning evil for evil has a snowballing effect, not a circling one
b) By “opportunity,” Paul uses a word to refer to a distinct, fixed time period, not just occasional moment. His point: the believer’s entire life provides the unique privilege by which he can serve others in Christ’s name
c) Our love for fellow Christians is the primary test of our love for God
d) Rom.12:10-13: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”?
III. Conclusion––Don’t think too highly (or lowly) of yourself or your experience, that it “sets you apart” or disqualifies you–use what you know to help someone else
