Bearing the infirmities of the weak.

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

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The weak.

Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 

1Co_1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty

1Co_9:22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

2Co_12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2Co_13:4  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

1Th_5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

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Bear the infirmities of the weak. Support the weak.

Being weak isn't something we encourage, why would we? We are to be able-bodied, able to do for ourselves and not rely upon others. Yet throughout our Lord's word we are told to help those who are weak. If being weak is offensive then why are they to be helped? Seriously, why? Weakness can come in so many forms and if we possess a weakness that is self-willed and self-encouraged then we are not just weak we are sluggards, we are liars to ourselves, to God. If our weakness is something in us that we strive against so we can be strong in the Lord, then our weakness is not evil. Admitting a weakness isn't easy for most people. We don't want to be considered weak. Even those who end up being weak through various illnesses, or old age and such do not want to be weak. Many of those who are weak despise the weakness within them yet they are victims to that weakness. 

I would love to say that I am one of the strong supporting the weak but lately I feel I am one of the weak ones in need of supporting. Or rather, I thought I was strong and able to support the weak only to come face to face with my own weakness when I could not support the weak.

We do need to bear the infirmities of the weak, but what do we do if we are weak?  Do we allow others to support us? Do we rail against our weakness and shun the helping hand? 

When we are helping the weak do we feel they are somehow less than they should be, or is our compassion for them so much greater than anything else? Where is our mercy if we despise those we are helping? Christ would NEVER despise those He's helped, which is all of us in our great weakness.

No, we can't strive to be weak, but if we do find ourselves weak we must not hate ourselves but humble ourselves allowing those who are stronger to be blessed in our weakness.

Also, when we are strong we must not hesitate to support the weak, the bear the infirmities of the weak. We are called to this …

Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 

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And a note to make here is we aren’t to be concerned with pleasing ourselves before helping others. If we think about taking our pleasure when someone is in need, we are not doing God's work. This isn't to say if we can't help someone for legitimate reasons then we can't, but to choose self over others will forever be against all our Savior has revealed to us. 

May God forgive me if I've done this in my situation of late, truly my weakness has prevented me from being strong for another, forgive me, Savior, forgive me.

All in the name of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ now and forever!