How Do You “Bear Someone’s Infirmities?” What Does That Even Mean?

This guest post come from Robin Bright, a follower of Christ, single mom of three and Nana of one. She has overcome the trauma of sexual abuse, homelessness, poverty, and addiction to become an advocate for recovery, an entrepreneur, and a community chaplain. She has been a ghost writer for over a decade and is coming out with her own book later in 2019. She is also the Founder at SOZO Recovery House. You can follow her here: Facebook.com/robinana

WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?

“We then who are strong (or we who have found freedom in a particular area) ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.”

How do you “bear someone’s infirmities?”
What does that even mean?

I like the Benson Bible commentary. It says we are to “accommodate ourselves to other’s weaknesses and to bear with them in their failings without condemning or despising them.”

I could write a book about how many situations this verse is appropriate for. How often are we frustrated with someone who “doesn’t know what we do” or hasn’t achieved a goal we view as simple?

I used to become pretty irritated when I’d drive past the people holding “baby killer” signs as they picketed outside the abortion clinic. I would think to myself, “Are these picketers so dumb that they think condemning and shaming the women seeking an abortion would really bring change?”
But I’m not called to roll my eyes. I’m called to recklessly love the women seeking the abortion, the doctor, the clinic staff, and the picketers.

That’s the thing….We tend to take sides, don’t we? But the Bible tells us differently: “We war not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness and rulers of darkness in this world.” -Ephesians 6:12

We are all pawns sometimes.
We have to remember who the real enemy is and to be patient and loving with people…ALL people.

Love wins.