Bearing With Others

By Peter Thorniley

Sitting in church on folding chairs as the communion was being passed out I heard a little accident when the tray went by in the row behind me. I thought nothing of it until the end of the service when I put my jacket on. My jacket was draped over the chair with its inside exposed. As it turned out there was a mentally retarded boy sitting in back of me who managed to spill the tray of communion juice on my jacket. Since a lot of it went down my right sleeve, it kind of stuck to my arm. After finding I’d been juiced, I muttered some words I normally wouldn’t say in church. Then I picked up my Bible and it fell open to Romans 15. “We who are strong should bear with the failings of those who are weak.” I said, “Okay Lord, I hope I don’t have to learn that one again.” But I did.

God showed me that maturity includes putting up with others that aren’t mature so they can become mature. After all that’s what God does with me. I realize the closer I am to God the more mistakes I see in myself. God loves me anyway and continues to work with me.

In Isaiah 6:1-5, Isaiah describes seeing the glory of God and realizes his own failings. He says in verse five: “Woe unto me for I am undone.” I remember when God taught me that verse too. I was marching in the Pear Blossom Parade in Medford with the TJHS marching band. When we’d gotten to the end of the parade route, I realized my fly was open. I’d just marched in front of 19,000 spectators unzipped. Woe unto me for I was undone! The next year I’d used a safety pin. But I learned that no matter how impressive I may try to look, I have failures. So does everyone else.

When I see faults in others, I have to think of my own tendencies to do the same thing before mentioning it to someone else. After I’ve removed the beam from my own eye I can see clearly to help remove the sawdust from someone else’s. Maturity shows itself in Godly people who know their own failings well enough to be able to help others with their faults. They’re much less apt to badmouth someone for their faults, but more helpful to free that person of a fault.

In this day and age of “let me do my own thing” it’s important for us to help others overcome their faults. Since your mistakes will catch up with you, it’s helpful for someone to try to keep you from digging yourself into too deep of a hole.

“Brothers if someone is overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, you may also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

Let’s realize it’s an act of kindness when someone is trying to keep us from hurting ourselves.

Peter Thorniley writes from Talent, Oregon.