The Apostle Paul tells us that we should bear one another’s burdens. But he also says that everyone should carry their own burden. (Galatians 6:2 and 5) This seems confusing…
Galatians 6:2-5
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thus you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something, although he is nothing, he deceives himself. Read more
What comes to mind is the Lord on the road to Golgotha who is going to be crucified. A certain Simon of Cyrene relieved Jesus, beaten and bleeding, by carrying his cross. What a blessing that must have been!
But when Jesus was nailed to the cross, He and He alone could bear the sin of the world. It was His responsibility, to be judged by the Father and pay the ultimate price, because of His love for us. He became a debtor to His father because of man’s sin, and that you and I might be found without debt. Only Jesus could do this. Only he could go to the cross for this purpose.
To clarify, there are two different words used in the verse above. The first “burden” is a weight while the second is literally a “bill”, a due.
You see, in life we have several responsibilities: some financial, towards people or family and even towards ourselves. These responsibilities can become irritating and boring and it can make a huge difference when someone comes to help us, a word of encouragement, or even something physical like help cleaning the car. What a blessing to be in relationship with brothers and sisters in the Lord who have that heart to help us carry the load. This is the Church, the fruit of real relationships.
The problem, however, comes when we try to help people in the wrong way by carrying their burdens, when it is not our place to do so, such as unforgiveness, anger, worry or the fear. These attitudes can only be changed by the Lord and that work begins when a person takes up their cross and denies themselves, as Jesus did and as He commanded us to do. He gives us no choice, we owe him, like a debt, and no one can do it for us.
For example, I can come to you and offer you financial help when you are in difficulty. I can help you reduce your burden. But if in this situation your attitude is self-pity and resentment, then I must be careful not to encourage them, rather I must help you to come to the Lord, to repent and take up your cross, to find freedom and a pure heart.
Sometimes relationships can be very fragile, because people seek to be pampered, this reinforces the problem. Instead, let’s be involved in the right way, and allow the person to seek the Lord first.
Life can be very unfair and hurtful at times. But it is important that we help people in the right way by always pointing them to the cross, before getting involved and encouraging them in their self-pity.
