Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Bearing One Another’s Burdens

“Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 CSB)

Most people are intimately familiar with the concept of “burdens.” We all have them in one form or another. Some burdens are heavier than others. Some are relational, while some are more personal. Some folks may only have a few, while others seem to have way more than their share. But we all have them.

What a terrible tragedy when someone has to bear his or her burdens alone. What a terrible loneliness. What great peace comes, though, in the Christian community when believers practice carrying “one another’s burdens.” To do so is to practice the good, and to fulfill the law of Christ that we love one another as we love ourselves. We focus not just on our own burdens, but on those that other believers have to carry, and when we do that, everyone’s burdens get a little lighter. One proverb says, “Many hands make a heavy load light.”

There is an interesting irony here. We all have our own burdens, and yet, when we begin to practice bearing the burdens of others, our burdens seem to somehow get lighter. Something about focusing our thoughts and concerns on the needs of others causes us to focus less on our concerns and actually enables us to be better able to bear our own burdens.

Bearing one another’s burdens is like sowing good seed. Over time, with proper care, a great harvest of righteousness and peace is reaped. Effort invested in carrying one another’s burdens is ultimately greatly rewarded. This is why Paul writes, “So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.”

Today’s challenge is that we carry one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Father, Show us how we can help bear the burdens of someone else today, fulfill Your law of love, and actually end up meeting our own needs as well. And when we see that, please remind us that You are the One who accomplishes this in us. Amen.

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