Do I Care for Others?

Galatians 6:2, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (NIV)

The message on Sunday at New River tried to focus on the question that has plagued mankind throughout our history. You may remember the story of Cain and Abel that is shared with us in Genesis 4. Cain's responds to a question from God with a question of his own, "...Am I my brother's keeper (guardian)?" 

In reality each of us are faced with that question in some way or another every day of our lives. We have faced those decisions in our family relationships, our relationships with our personal friends as well as our relationships within the family of God. There is no escaping the challenge to answer that personal question no matter how much we try and no matter how many excuses/reasons that we put forward to justify our lack of concern for others. I shared three recent examples in which several people chose to look the other way during a difficult incident rather than involve themselves in being a part of the solution in a particular tragedy. 

Let's be honest, it is easier to look the other way and hope that the problem solves itself rather than involve ourselves in assisting someone who is in need. Assistance usually requires some involvement, an amount of concern and a portion of our time. Those three (3) requirements may take us out of our comfort zone from time to time. But let me ask this question; "Have you ever needed assistance from someone be they stranger or friend?" Let me ask another question; "Do you remember the "sense of accomplishment" that you felt when you offered assistance to someone in need?" 

Let us prepare our hearts for those moments in which God gives us the opportunity to help "carry the burden" of someone in need.