There was a room full of doctors eating together on a certain occasion. One doctor got up from the table, left the room, and in minutes was dead. A morsel of food had lodged in his windpipe, and so he choked to death. The tragedy of this incident is heightened by the fact that probably any one of those doctors could have performed the Heimlich Maneuver, or, if need be, a tracheotomy to restore his breathing. But they did not know anything was wrong – he didn’t tell them.

A lesson is here for those of us in the church. A member may have a problem in his (or her) life – a problem with their marriage or the children, with alcohol, money, grief, loneliness, depression, or whatever. He feels embarrassed about the situation, so he does not tell his brothers and sisters in Christ that he is struggling. Instead, he absents himself or puts on a brave front and struggles all alone. Sometimes he is crushed beneath the load, and no one knew until it was too late.

The Scriptures say, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). That is one big reason why Christ in His wisdom placed us together in the church – to bear one another’s burdens. Of course, many problems cannot be solved as quickly as that of a choking victim, but most problems become more bearable when shared.

That’s why we’re focusing on people who have sexual temptations and addictions. I hope you will find hope and help in this weekends three part series.

Shaken to the Foundation.   –   Journey Interrupted.   –   Born That Way.