Galatians 6:1-5
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.“
We raise our kids to be community-minded. In a country that’s highly individualistic in its thinking, this is a pretty revolutionary idea. We’ve been taught to “look out for number one,” and to ask “what’s in it for me?!” I think this mindset was at play in Cain when he answered God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In our family, we turn that thinking on its head. We teach our children that we only succeed as a group. It’s great when one of us does well, but if one of us struggles, it’s our job to lift them up. It’s our job to sound a warning if we see someone going off path. It’s our job to look out for each other. “Look out for number one” has been replaced by “see a need; fill a need.”
But we do have to be careful. When we’re out there looking out for one another, it can be easy to fall into a judgement frame of mind. Instead of our hearts being turned to cry out a warning to our brother before he stumbles, we could be motivated to stand in judgement feeling that we are morally superior. Nothing could be further from the truth! We all sin. We all fall short. We just don’t all do it at the same time. We can’t allow ourselves to become prideful.
Father, I thank you that you put us in community. I thank you that when I need a hand, I can count on my brothers and sisters to offer one. Help me to watch out for my brothers and sisters around the world. Help me to lift them up when they are struggling, to call out a warning when they are in danger, and to do whatever I can to help them out. Don’t let me become prideful, thinking I’ve got it all figured out, but help me to be humble, remembering that one day I will be the one on the receiving end in need of help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Beautiful Mess 