He's No Burden
Today’s Verse:
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ~Galatians 6:2
Many years ago, Rescue Journal retold the story of an American who was walking down the streets of a Chinese city and who was greatly interested in the children, many of whom were carrying smaller children upon their backs and managing, at the same time, to play their games, says a writer in the Youth's Companion. "It is too bad," the American sympathetically said to one little fellow, "that you have to carry such a heavy burden!" "He's no burden," came the quick reply; "he's my brother.” One of the more overlooked responsibilities of Christian living is lovingly carrying the burdens of other believers.
We see the rule.
Paul said that when we bear one another’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ. That law is sometimes referred to as “The Golden Rule.” In Galatians 5:14, Paul said, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The great law of God is that we love others as we love ourselves. This implies an unselfish love that is patient, longsuffering, and serving. Jesus said that loving our neighbor as ourselves demonstrates to other people that we are His disciples. We are under the command of our Savior in this matter.
We see the responsibility.
Bearing one another’s burdens is helping to carry someone’s load. It is when we encourage him to let us carry some of the weight that is on his shoulder. A burden is an emotional and spiritual load. We can do this by having empathy for his situation. Empathy is when the other’s pain or heaviness becomes ours. We can do this through prayer for his burden and circumstance. We can do this by taking a walk with him or letting him unload on us. Basically, we are helping him shift the some of the weight of his burden on us.
We see the risk.
Whenever we bear the burdens of others, we are taking on personal risk. We must be careful that, in helping to bear someone else’s burden, we do not allow ourselves to become emotionally attached or overwhelmed. We are called to bear his burdens, not to be conquered by his burdens. There is the risk of confidentiality. Other people’s burdens must be kept in confidence. We should only share anything about the burdens we are carrying if we are given permission to do so. There is the spiritual risk. We are of little use to others if we do not take time to pray with them and for them. Prayer is the greatest means by which burdens are carried. There is the time risk. You must be willing to give sacrificially of your time.
We see the range.
First, when our walk with the Lord is strong, we must have courage to help restore those overtaken in a fault (Galatians 6:1). Second, we should take financial responsibility through our tithes, offerings, and personal gifts to those who teach us the Word of God (Galatians 6:6). The Bible says that we should communicate, or financially participate, with those who are in ministry and carrying burdens. Third, we should do good to all men, especially those who are in our own local church (Galatians 6:10). Fourth, we should be encouragers to those who are weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9). Write them a note that you appreciate them. Spend extra time praying for them. Bering burdens involves our time, our concern, our finances, our patience, and our love. In all of this, we fulfill the law of Christ. Bear someone’s burdens today!
Have a burden-bearing God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalms 21-25