Sunday, September 18, 2016 am
OTHERS 2016 (32)
BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER
Ephesians 4:2
We
have been addressing various “one another” passages as they describe
relationship to “one another” as brethren.
We have noted our fellowship with one another, and our need to
love, be of the same mind, consider, greet and be kind to one another.
Throughout these lessons we have mentioned that these qualities
include bearing with one another.
Today we want to address what bearing with one another involves.
a.
Bear is from a
Greek word that means, “to regard with tolerance, endure, put up with.”
(BDAG)
The KJV uses the word, “forbearing”
in our text
When we use the word we think of putting up with (tolerating) someone or
something. While that
is the idea of the word, let us not forget that as Christians our motive
is not simply to tolerate someone, it is more of the endurance because
of who we are as brethren.
b.
Passages that use this
word
i.
1 Corinthians 4:12,
being persecuted we endure
ii.
2 Corinthians 11:1 – Oh
that you would bear with me a
little folly…
iii.
2 Timothy 4:3, the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine
iv.
Hebrews 13:22, brethren,
bear with the word of
exhortation…
v.
IN summary, this word is
about being patient and enduring whatever it is we face.
c.
We are a spiritual family. Throughout these
“one another” qualities we have emphasized how we the family of God.
Families, while they love each, have quirks – but they stay
together and they are there for each another.
We all know the church is the people who make up the body.
While God’s pattern for her is perfect, she is filled with
imperfect people – people with quirks.
And sometimes things are messy – there are personality clashes,
people that are difficult or just different, people that have flaws both
in attitude and action (think of bitterness, sulky, etc.)
Christians have bad days.
Also some are more selfish than they ought to be, overly
critical, etc. Some, while
well meaning, are not as tactful with their words as others.
Some are struggling with weaknesses or even with sin.
Sometimes they disagree with you on some passage of scripture and
challenge you – and not always nicely.
Some don’t like certain songs Etc.
Some are demanding when it comes to getting their way.
Right or wrong – such things are a reality, and honestly, some
are able to suppress or handle these things better than others.
Some are impatient in dealing with our quirks and differences.
BUT, to maintain our spiritual family – we MUST bear with one
another.
a.
Ephesians 4:1-3,
Colossians 3:13 – bearing with one another is the command
b.
Jesus gives us an
example –
when we study the interaction of Jesus with His apostles and disciples,
we see great forbearance.
Considering how they squabbled with one another.
They didn’t grasp the teachings of Jesus as they should have.
In his midst was Peter with his impetuous attitude and
overconfidence; James and John being impatient with others, Judas who
was greedy and a thief, Thomas and his doubting, various apostles who
had weak faith at times.
Yet, Jesus loved them and continued to patiently mold them.
That is was forbearance is about.
In Matthew 17:17, after the disciples weak faith failed to cast out a
demon, Jesus said, “O faithless
and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?
How long shall I bear with you?...”
As we study the life of Jesus we see what it means to bear with one
another.
c.
Similarly, Paul is an example of bearing with one another –
again, a study of
his life shows that he put up with a great deal for the sake of his
brethren. He dealt with
error and had to correct brethren.
He was criticized for both his apostleship and ministry and had
to continually defend it. He
dealt with persecutions and lack on occasions (1 Cor. 4:12).
He dealt with betrayal and abandonment.
Disappointment with his Jewish brethren who declared him an
enemy. Yet he never stopped
caring for his brethren. In
fact, they were constantly on his mind – (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:28,
Philippians 1:21-26, etc.).
ONE reason for Paul’s forbearance was a realization of how God and
Christ had dealt with him – 1 Timothy 1:16 – Jesus showed him all
longsuffering, etc.
d.
Bearing with one another
requires: (Ephesians 4:1-3)
i.
Patience
– as the word implies, we need to be patient in dealing with each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 says,
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
ii.
Love
– we have been emphasizing this.
It is because of our love for one another that we are willing to
bear with one another. 1
Peter 4:8 – it will cover a multitude of sins (not ignore sin, but bear
with it if necessary). Love
suffers long (1 Cor. 13:4) and bears all things (13:7).
iii.
Work
– we strive for unity – endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace. Paul
points out that we are working at this.
The incomplete list of inadequacies among brethren
mentioned above is not easy deal with.
It takes a resolve, a good attitude and intense effort to
maintain godliness in such circumstances.
But we can and MUST for the sake of God and one another!
iv.
A willingness to deal
with it -
like so many things, we have to make up our minds that we are
going to treat one another properly no matter what the circumstance.
This willingness is not merely about them; it is about YOU!
You are the only person you can
change and help the situation.
Think of Philippians 2:3-4, Galatians 6:1 – considering yourself…
Examination from time to time – look inward! I
challenge each of us who have those we think we are bearing with – are
there quirks about me that requires others to put up with me?
Is my attitude godly? Have I contributed to the intensity of a
situation?
v.
A willingness to forgive
– Colossians 3:13. Associated with bearing with one another is a
willingness to forgive others.
There may be times when you are wronged and have a legitimate
cause. But ARE YOU WILLING
to forgive? This is
part of the process of bearing with one another.
a.
Galatians 6:2
– a completely DIFFERENT word for bear, with a little different meaning,
but it still involves endurance. It
is the Greek word, βαστάζω (bastazō) and means to carry or sustain
something.
Matt. 3:11 – John was not worthy to carry the sandal of Jesus.
Matt. 20:12 speaks of some who had borne (carried) the burden of
the day.
Luke 14:27 – we are to bear our cross, Galatians 6:5 – each of us to
bear his own load.
This is the word we find in Romans 15:1, we who are strong ought to bear
with the weaknesses of the weak.
b.
Galatians 6:2, 5
- The text is calling for us to help a brother who is struggling with a
heavy load (a difficult concern).
This is contrasted with the individual load one is to bear on his own –
those things which we must do for ourselves and no one can help us with
them.
Applying this to our lesson today, consider how as we endure our
brethren in their idiosyncrasies and weaknesses, instead of being
critical or overly judgmental (Matthew 7:1-5), why not try to HELP them
with their burdens. Be there
for them.
As scriptures teach that we must each carry out our own
responsibilities, let us do our PART in bearing with one another.
Serving God is not always easy, and our brethren, our spiritual family,
are there for us, and we are to be there for them.
Let us resolve that we will strive to be EVERYTHING we can be for
them. Let us bear with
one another even as God bears with us. Think about it.