Welcome to the InTouch podcast with Charles Stanley for Monday, March 9th. If Jesus spent his time caring for helpless people, then believers have no excuse for ignoring those around us. Our series continues with part two of bearing each other’s burdens. >> Here’s a person who’s hurting and you go to them or the guy, I really want to help you, but you’re one of those persons whose tongues split.
And so as soon as they tell you what’s on their heart and their brokenness, you go tell somebody else and say, you know, I’m telling you because I just want you to pray for them. That is, listen, that is absolutely totally deception. If you want them to pray for them, then don’t tell them what’s going on. Don’t tell them about their heartaches and their burdens.
Don’t tell them about the sin that they’ve confessed to you. That is not godly. And he says this very carefully in this passage. He says you who are spiritual, that is you’re governed by the spirit. You’re controlled by the spirit. You want to walk in the spirit. The spiritfilled life is your life. That’s who you are. You’re a spiritually minded person.
Now listen, just because you ask the blessing at the table. And just because you read your Bible once in a while and you go to church, that doesn’t mean you’re spiritually minded. You can listen, you can be dishonest in your business. You can be dishonest and you can be a flirt. You can be lustful as a devil.
Other words, all that kind of stuff can be in there. These other actions look pretty good. But the truth is, where is your heart? What are you thinking when you see somebody? Do you look with lust or genuine love toward them? Do you look at who they are or who they can be and wonder? For example, what kind of talents and abilities and skills does this person have? All of this is involved in who we are.
Listen, if I’m going to help someone, he makes it very clear. He says you who are spiritual and there’s one other word there. Look at that. He says the right attitude right attitude is that of gentleness. Now what is a gentle person? A gentle person is one who is caring and loving and kind and forgiving and accepting.
Now if you’re a gentle person and you’re trying to help someone else, you do not say, “How’d you get yourself in that mess?” In other words, you’re not harsh. You’re not in a hurry, but your kindness is supreme above everything else. You don’t listen, you don’t get in an argument with a person you’re trying to help.
Listen, you can win the argument and lose the person for good. You don’t argue with them. You listen to them. You listen. They begin to tell you what’s going on in their life. Watch this carefully. They’re going to read your response before you say a single word. You know how they’re going to read it? They’re going to look at you in your eyes. You’ll reveal what you’re feeling.
They’re going to watch how you respond physically. If you get antsy, they’re going to think, “I better quit.” If you look with shame, shame, shame, shame, they’re going to stop. Gentleness is able to accept no matter what. No hurry, no rushing. And listen, not the feeling, the attitude, I’m going to fix you. I I I know how to fix you.
Because as we come to a little bit longer in these verses here, gentleness and the spirit of kindness and acceptance and forgiveness, it’s all through this passage. And so, a person who is going to be a burden bearer of someone else’s sin has to have a gentle spirit. And when you and I respond correctly, here’s what they do.
