Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
When we have problems, we help each other along. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are there to pray with us, encourage us and to help us.
We should not be timid about asking for help and accepting help. And, we should not be timid about extending help. It is what we do for one another.
There is no burden which is too heavy to bear when others help us carry it.
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either my heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
James 5:12
A good reason to always speak the truth is that you never have to remember what you said. We don’t have to say any more and we don’t have to defend the truth, because the truth is what it is and nothing can change truth.
We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
The Apostle Paul instructs us that we are not just to go along to get along when we see Christians behaving badly, but that we should in kindness correct those who need correcting and help those who are struggling in the faith. And, that we should expect the same from other Christians.
We are not being a friend to other Christians, if we do not help them when they need help, be it correction or encouragement.
Help a brother or sister in the Lord. Say something.
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
The seas and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
Psalm 146:5-7
What do you do when you are down to nothing? There is nothing that feels worse than sitting on the edge of giving up. When there is nothing left that you can do to remedy your problems or the problems of others that you know.
In all this we have hope, because the God we serve does not give up. He is on our side. He cares intimately for us and all our needs.
Robert Schuller said it well: "When you are down to nothing, God is up to something."
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
Proverbs 15:1-2
There is nothing like a wrong reply to cause an argument over something that is insignificant. When someone says something to us that we think is a little mean our first instinct is to say something equally mean rather than to ask, “What do you mean by that?”
We may find that nothing personal was meant by the statement or that the person intended to tease us or, given the time it takes for an answer to be heard, that we cool off enough to realize it is not worth the trouble to answer and leave no snappy comeback to comeback and haunt us.
What is not said can be as important as what is said.
Beloved do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God, the one who does evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:11
As children when we wanted to do something that our parents did not think was a good idea we all heard them say, “If everybody is jumping off a bridge, are you going to do it too?” They wanted us to understand that “everybody’s doing it” might be a good reason not to do it.
God does not want us to be led astray by people who do not have our best interests in mind. God wants us to think before we act and do what is right. It is never the wrong time to walk away from evil.
Imitate what is good.
This commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.
1 John 4:21
Being a Christian is all about loving mankind. We are to love those who are the least lovable and extend a hand of fellowship to them.
How else will they come to know Jesus if we do not show them the way by first loving them and second, sharing the Gospel?
