My burden; our burden

Gal 6:2-5

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,

5 for each one should carry his own load.

Have you ever once felt that your brothers and sisters in church only cared about their own business and have no time to mind your business? 2 years ago, I mentioned to a brother that I think this is commonplace in a meritocratic society like Singapore which is fast-paced and individualistic. However, we are indeed taught in the Bible we should mind our own business. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12  it says – make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. In Galatians 6:5, it says for each one should carry his own load. So, let us learn to do our own work and take pride and be contented in it, not comparing ourself with another person who has his own work to do. One practical way is to have an organiser and tick off the tasks you have achieved which gives you a sense of satisfaction for that day.

However, we must not neglect Gal 6 verse 2 which says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Does it sound enigmatic; why verse 5 says to carry your own load but verse 2 says to carry each other’s burdens? It does not. For in verse 2 it means “heavy burdens” – those that are more than one person to carry; while in verse 5 it means your “pack”. In verse 2, Paul refers to helping christians , sharing their load whenever temptations oppress or life depresses them. Love being the fulfillment of law that is stated as the new commandment (John 13:34). Therefore, we should burden ourselves with mutual sympathy as well.

Two things may hinder mutual sympathy

• Conceit; thinking yourself more highly and important than others (Gal 6:3; Romans 12:3) and thus refusing to bear another’s burdens. This is self-deception as measured by God’s standards, no one amounts to anything.
• Comparing your works with the works of others; positive sense (“I’m happy I’m doing better than they are”) and negative sense (“I’m unable to do anything; everyone else is much better”)

To end off, I would like to use an analogy to illustrate this lesson. As you all know, my extended family and I are going to Japan from tomorrow. My aunt will be bringing along her friend who has weak knees and this friend required the use of a wheelchair. To facilitate this, my aunt reduced her luggage to just a backpack instead of a pull-luggage and backpack which most of us will be bringing; she said this will enable her to take care of her friend in wheelchair. I have to praise my aunt for her love for her friend. During this trip, not only has she to carry her own load (backpack) but also to bear her friend’s burden (moving in wheelchair).

I thank God for the people, friends and family, who bore my burdens while i was in bondage of sins and depression. I will be adding this new thing I have learnt to my prayer list and year-end reflection. 

In the next post, I will write on Gal 6:1 for the cell group category. It’s about restoration of a person who has sinned. Personally, I was very hurt by how this was done in a previous christian gathering I have joined. What is the most appropriate way?

At the end of the year 08, reflect – Have I taken pride in carrying my own load and also bear the burdens of other people. 

Repentance on 1st feb

1st FEb this year was memorable, prior to this, starting from 12 Jan 08, and counting, I had prayed unremittingly for 20 days. The holy spirit was evidently moving and guiding me these past weeks and days with God doing something in my heart on this day which was the 2nd prayer meeting held in church this year – I broke down in front of everyone in repentance for the sins and shame I had brought to God for the past few years when I had been disobedient.

The meeting started quite casual. If not for my aunt, I wouldn’t be attending this prayer meeting actually. Two reasons derived from the first prayer meeting I had attended; firstly I find it was carried out in a very boring and nondescript way, secondly, I find mingling with the people who came very awkward as I don’t know how they perceived me after leaving the church for a couple of years, and then coming back again. Surprisingly, the senior pastor came to talk to me. He must have been informed of how I was doing from my aunt, who is the church administrator, as he could easily strike conversations with me, on the job which I would be starting after Chinese New Year and the vacation to Japan with a big group of my extended family during the CNY period. I also shared the obstacles and miracles God has done to open the door for me to take up the job and there was still some to overcome by faith in the days to come.

The praise and worship songs we sang touched me. The last song especially as it was about repentance, not looking back and not looking around anymore but focusing on Jesus. It was written by an ex-convict who repented and now was used by God as a gospel singer, writing, singing, travelling around to testify God to people.

The prayer meeting continued with thanksgiving sharing. We took turns to share. This was when I broke down and repented. I started with: “I thank God for this year because it was a new beginning for me…” Then I began to sob uncontrollably as I shared about the shame I had brought to the name of God during the period I sinned, backslided and left the church. I sank into depression and did things my ways.

Eventually what God spoke to me to encourage me to go back to the church which I left despite the shame. God persistently affirmed his love for me despite my errors and renewed a worth in me based on the value he placed on me despite how other people or even myself measured up. I had learnt to lean and rely on him through prayers because I realised my thoughts were uncontrollably difficult to handle, so many spiritual attacks and negative thoughts; at many times I could easily be triggered by a past experience or hurt and sink into depression. I thank God for the past 20 days that he carried me, giving me the honor to join the spiritual battle through prayers and intercession for others. Thank God again for his grace upon me.

These are the promises God gave me the morning on 2 Feb - I would like to reflect at the end of this year 08 – Joel 2:21-27

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice; for the Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locusts hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Never a challenging time?

As a christian, does it mean we’ll never go through a challenging time?

Find your answer after listening to the Faith Struggle (Sermon).

After listening to the sermon, I thanked God for the struggles which I persevered through in the past which made me a better and stronger person; however, I also asked for forgiveness for the struggles I cowardly escaped, eventually had to be disciplined and relearn them again in the future to come.

God will be leading us into these circumstances at certain point in our lives and I am expecting one to come when I take on my new job. Did I really choose this path? No, but the heavenly father chose it for me. I have to learn to be obedient and faithful.

2 Cor 12:9 My Grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

We are to rest and trust that God has brought us here and keep us here as long as He chooses and God will bring us out His own time, His own way.

Personal Prayer List

1. A restored self-worth in Christ Jesus, not built on my successes or failures, but on his exceeding love and value placed on me. To be confident because I am a Crown Prince.
2. Not be envious. Do not bear grudge. Do not be proud.
3. Rely on God’s grace to face the challenges of each new day.
4. Discipline to be present.
5. Be sensitive to the people I speak to.
6. Take pride in carrying my own load and also bear the burdens of others.

Are you present?

I had just attended a workshop by EffectiveArts over the weekend as a training organized to prepare me working at the hospital as an organ transplant coordinator.

It was a very interactive and handson workshop with the coach saying at the start of the training : “I am not committed to your comfort, but very committed to your success,” – you’ll have a rough idea what to expect. During the workshop, we were taught techniques to provide bereaved support to the family members and also techniques to improve working relationships with our colleagues at the hospital.

I am sharing one of the techniques which I found to be the most impactful to me during the 2 day course of learning. This technique is called - Being present.

It was illustrated through a game of “Counting 1,2,3″ in a continuous and alternative fashion with a partner. The game goes with Tom starting to count 1 then Dick 2, going back to Tom counting 3; now Dick will count 1, Tom -2, then Dick -3. This keeps on going. It may sound simple and easy, but trust me, the game is going to require a great deal of attention. And the nub is this, when one made a mistake, the other should carry on from the mistake. For instance, when Tom says 3 when he should be saying 2, Dick should carry on with 1 instead of 3. 

The coach Jim Boggs explained to us we could either be in the game or out of the game. When we are thinking of something else and not listening, we would be out of the game, giving the wrong responses. The remedy is simple, just get back into the game. Now replace in phrases “in the game” with the word – present, and “out of the game” with the words - not present. So the objective is to be in the game and be present to give the right response.

Though this is a simple game, it accentuates the importance of being present. Often, we may be engaged in an activity, but are not present. The most salient example would be chatting on MSN - you write a sentence and have to wait a minute to get a response! Personally, I have witnessed how powerful it is to be present, people being supported, loved and cared for. 

For me, I reasoned this principle could be applied to my life as well. I should let go of the past, not thinking about the future and be 100% there at the present, doing my best the thing that is on hand now. I would be adding this to my prayer list.

At the end of the year 08, reflect – Have I disciplined myself to be in the present?

Are you present reading this post? 

Learning faithfulness in small things

The little things I am going to be faithful in year 08, ranking according to priority and frequency required in week.

1. Paying the premiums (prayers) - the minimum 2 times a day
2. Commitment to my job (relying on His Grace)
3. Doing devotional readings, reading christian materials online and maintaining this blog
4. Going to church on sunday, attending youth fellowship and cell group
5. Attend Reverend Tong’s expository preaching

At the end of the year 08, reflect – Have I been faithful in these things?