Christian Life

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The Bible says:

"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load." (Gal 6:1-5)

As members of the same body of Christ, it is the duty of every believer to bear the burdens, especially the spiritual burdens of one another. However, we are not usually careful about two snares:

One, the temptation to feel superior and therefore do the good deed condescendingly and often nonchalantly.

Two, forgetting that we have our our filthy burden of sins.

Therefore, we are reminded that we must not only obey the Lord in doing good, but also to do it with grace and gentleness and respect, fully mindful that the object is also a joint-heir of our common heritage in Christ.

Further, while we sympathetically bear the loads (sins, infirmities, etc) of our brethren, we must responsibly continue to be fully aware of our own weaknesses too - and bear the load (repentance, humidity, holiness, etc), not ever imagining that we are yet perfected or superior to others.

Our sense of victory over sin should always be in ourselves alone and not by comparing ourselves with others who happen to be struggling in the area where we seem to have achieved victory. Remember the Pharisee praying in the temple comparing himself with the tax collector. In all these, know that despite your personal "victories", you only stand by grace, not your power.

It is well.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor,
'Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,'
When you have it with you." (Proverbs 3:27-28)

This scripture powerfully operated in my life many decades ago when I was in politics. Being the councilor of my ward (political constituency), a young man came to me to have certain documents accredited and confirm him as a bona fide member of the constituency. I checked the papers and found all the claims true. Yet, my natural instinct was to ask him to come for my signature the following day. (Why should he get prompt service so easily? Would that not reduce the dignity of my person and of the office of the councilor? Would the impression not be that we were not busy'?)

Glory be to God, I did not succumb to any of such carnal promptings. I signed his papers immediately and he was overjoyed as he left to pursue his goal (I think it was an appointment he needed the documents for.) I too was greatly pleased that I was able to help somebody progress in life. And it practically cost me nothing!

Now hear the meat of the story:

That evening, it was announced that the president, IBB (Ibrahim Babangida), had terminated the tenures of all of us councilors and chairmen!
I never knew it was my last day in office! I can't imagine what eternal regret I would have had if I didn't sign that boy's papers that day, not to talk of his own needless losses and possibly hatred he would have developed for me personally and public officers in general.

So, as the word of God says, do not delay to do your good deeds.

God bless you.