carrying.htm

Carrying My Cross

Recently I was involved in a discussion where someone suggested that one person is to help another carry their cross. That brought many questions to my mind.

Is it Biblical to rely on another human being to "help" us carry our cross?
Can another human being actually be responsible to help carry another persons cross, instead of, or besides, their own?
When Jesus said to pick up our cross and follow Him, did He also say pick up another's’ cross as well?
When we reach heaven, will we be accountable for having helped carry another cross or will how we carried our own cross be what matters?

There are many verses that speak of carrying our cross.

Mark 8:34 "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Luke 9:23 "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Taking up our cross is a daily event. It’s a total commitment to our Lord and his call. No one else can do it for us.

Matthew 10:38 "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me."

Note verse 10:37 "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

Luke 14:26,27 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Note also verse 28 carries a warning to count the cost. To do otherwise would be disastrous.

Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? "

We are admonished to not stop in mid-carry but to carefully consider before even taking up our cross. This also indicates that the person who does not carry his own cross, and follow Christ, simply cannot be His disciple. Each will be rewarded according to that commitment.

Matthew 16:24 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

There seems to be issue with some that try to hold back in areas of their lives. Jesus wants our whole attention and devotion. It cannot go to another person or thing. There is an individual cost that each must give in order to pick up his cross.

Matthew 19:21 " Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Mark 10:21 "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, and take up the cross, and follow me."

Also note Luke 18:22.

God made many promises regarding following Him. He promised we would never do it without Him and His burden is light. He said we would never be alone, He will carry us through.

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Hebrews 13:6 "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Hebrews: 12:2 " Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."

Psalm 54:4 " Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul."

Psalm 94:17,18 "Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. "

Also: Psalm 40:17

Psalm 115:11 "Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield."

Psalm 121:2 " My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

1 Peter 5:7 " Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you

Psalm 28:7 " The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song I will praise him."

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Isaiah 46:4 " And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and will bear; even I will carry, and I will deliver you."

What happens if we look to "man" or others to help us carry our cross? What is the attitude we’re to have?

Psalm 108:12 "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man."

Galatians 6:4,5 "But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden"

Psalm 37:23,24 " The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand."

1 Corinthians 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Jeremiah 17:5 " Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

This says to me that the person had trusted God and then turned to man for help and eventually turned from God completely. Although we cannot carry another persons cross; we have a responsibility to view others in the love of Christ. With that, certain attributes should shine through.

Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

The law of Christ being: John 13:34 " A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

Acts 11:14 & 30 (helping the needy)

Acts 2:42 (Fellowship)

1 Peter 4:7-11 (brotherly kindness)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (mutual edification) "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another..."

We would be remiss in our love one for another if we did not encourage one another to stay the course, run the race, and uphold one another in prayer. The Body needs other parts of the Body; each part is called to do its function. One cannot perform the function of another, nor carry the cross Christ has called each of us to pick up and carry.

An individual cannot follow another person without then taking their eyes off Christ. A woman cannot carry her husbands cross and also carry her own. A husband will not be able to stand in place of his wife and carry her cross. Each will be judged on their own merit in the choices they have made---through Christ, trusting Christ and in Christ. We cannot receive salvation or any reward on the "merit" of another cross. There is no scripture to that end. Each work of each individual person will be weighed and tested by fire.

1Corinthians 3:7-11 "So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

1 Corinthians 3:13-14" Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."

Revelation 22:12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Each individual person must weigh the cost, decide to pick up their cross and follow Christ and no other, depending on no other person to do these things for them. We know that He provides us with everything we need to persevere to the end.

2 Peter 1:3,4 "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

We have no need to feel burdened with carrying our cross. We cannot look to others to carry our cross. We need only do the following.

Psalm 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

All Scripture quotes the Authorized King James Bible