“Carry Each Other’s Burden!”

“Carry Each Other’s Burden!”
I watched this skit where a lady came to the pastor and confessed that she was paid to lie that she had COVID-19. At first the pastor scolded her for commiting such a sin. He asked her to bring the money to him. He further asked how much she was paid. She said it was twenty thousand Naira. The pastor exclaimed, then asked her in a conspiratorial tone, “Do they still need more people to bribe?” The lady was so embarrassed.
Paul advises, “if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you may be tempted. The Christian faith is a life long journey where even the strong often get weary, then stumble and fall. Those who are still standing should restore the one in love because it is not good to laugh at those who have fallen when there is still slippery road ahead.
In some polygamous communities when one wife commits an offense and is punished, the punishment is borne by all the other wives. Knowing this, the women learn to correct each other without scandal, knowing that it can happen to any of them.
We should carry each other’s burdens. Those “who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak…” (Rom.15:1f). By carrying each other’s burdens we fulfil the law of Christ. He carried our burdens of sin so that we too should bear with one another.
Whoever thinks he is something when he is nothing deceives himself. No-one has a moral high ground standing there to point out the sins of others. Rather each one should test his or her actions, not comparing self to somebody else like the Pharisee who prayed making comparison to a tax collector and claiming to be better. Each one of us is going to be responsible before God (Gal.6:1-5).
Summarily, to grow in the faith spiritually we must hold each other’s hands and journey together in love. But when there is jealousy and quarelling it means we are still worldly (Cf. I Cor. 3:1-3). It is good to bear each other’s burdens.
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit give me the strength to carry the burdens of others so that we journey together in love. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!