"Bear" With Me

As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear;
so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
Proverbs 28:15

I loved stuffed animals in my youth and by youth, I mean junior high through high school. I don't know whatever happened to all of them, but I don't have even one of them now. However, I do have a wonderful stuffed black bear maybe as tall as a cowboy boot that Brian bought for me as a reward for either hiking or biking around Cades Cove several years ago. I named it “Cadie” with a long “a” sound. Just a few minutes ago as I left my bedroom, there she sat looking her usual attentive self from the top of my desk. Cadie never growls, begs for food or misbehaves in any way for which I'm grateful.

However, Cadie is stuffed. She looks cute, but has no life to her and couldn't hurt a flea. She is, though, a nice replica of the beautiful live black bears we see in the mountains in our area. Tourists flock to certain areas in the hope of seeing at least one bear they can take pictures of to take home to show off to friends or relatives. Cars line up beyond reason in the Cove just to view a bear that has been spotted in a nearby wooded area. Children giggle with delight at the sight while parents make fools of themselves rushing with phone cameras in tow to take pictures. It's all fun and a delight.

Some tourists, however, take serious risks despite warning signs and stiff penalties to get as close to a live bear as they can without sustaining serious injury. The opening verse speaks of a “ranging bear.” That is a bear that is seriously wandering on the hunt for food. It may display a low growl, head moving from side to side seeking food. Most bears here live on berries, bugs and even yellow jackets. That's not a lot of food even at first thought for a bear that might weigh 200-250 pounds. While that bear is on the hunt, though, it does not want any distraction and may attack if aggravated. A bear was found in a local ladies kitchen having broken through the back door and then got into her refrigerator. Hearing the noise, she glanced to see the bear and immediately called authorities. You've heard of someone being “hungry as a bear?” Well, if that's the case, that human being is pretty desperate for a good meal if he's that hungry.

Looking in Scripture, I find another kind of “bear” there. This requires action on our part that will be of benefit to others. In definitions I found regarding that kind of “bear”, I find that we may be asked to carry, deliver, support, prop or hold up someone who might have great need at any given time. So in a sense, we have the privilege of being “bears” of sorts. For instance:

Bear ye one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

WHY?

So Christ was once offered to
bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for Him shall
He appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:28

We are to bear the burdens of others because Jesus was willing to bear our sins and the sins of all others.

I also love the verse in Psalm 91:12 from one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament:

For He shall give His angels charge
over thee, to keep thee in all
thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their
hands, lest thou dash thy foot
against a stone.

I don't know about you but there have been times when I knew my God-provided angels were on duty, especially when an accident was avoided or I sensed a special protection over me when I felt myself in an unusual situation where I felt a threat. Those angels bore me up many a time and I'm so grateful for that.

I love all of the cuddly bears that are stuffed, but don't want to mess with the real thing. I am grateful for those who have come along my side as a burden bearer. I know God has used them in my life as well as His providing those angel bearers I need on a daily basis. Personally, I need to be much more aware of the burdens of folks around me. So many of these folks have come to my attention in recent days who may need a card, a word of encouragement, a lunch date with a burdened down soul...any way I can be an encouragement and can only help one bear their burdens. Then I can have the joy of following Jesus' concern for others in being a burden bearer. We can be Jesus with skin on in the lives of others.

Father...Help me to be conscious of those around me who are really going through tough times. I want to help bear the burdens of others to be of help to them but to bring glory to You. Guide me in knowing the wise things to do and say as I seek to serve You in this way. In Jesus precious name....Amen