“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 ESV
Reflection: what does it mean to carry burdens for brothers and sisters in Christ?
The journey as a Christian is often filled with tribulations, with suffering. None of us like suffering, but it is unavoidable as a Christian. The fact that we all have a sinful flesh that wants to follow the world, as well as a new creation in Christ, holy and sanctified for Him that desires to follow God’s law, create an internal conflict, a spiritual battle. And, in addition, we are bombarded with external pressures, temptations to align with the flow of the world. As believers, we are mostly going in the opposite direction of the world, and the world does not look kindly on anyone or anything that opposes its flow. We each know and feel these internal and external battles. Some experience these more than others, as they die to their flesh, and they dare challenge the world. Dare to stand up for Christ, and live according to His law.
Let me ask you, how are you doing?
Paul wrote this amazing letter to God’s people in Galatia, some of them probably new followers of Jesus Christ, who were trying to figure out this whole thing. They did not have the benefit of a Bible as we do today, to be able to seek answers in God’s word. So, the writing of Paul is therefore very instructive, how to live as a Christian in a pagan and secular world. As he wraps up this letter, he talks about how we are called as believers to help each other. Let’s read “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.” Galatians 6:1-4 ESV.
One of the key themes here is not to get prideful, self centered or self focused. That we are to do our part, our portion in the kingdom, but also carry the burdens for our brothers and sisters in Christ. That all sounds good, sounds “Christianeze”, but what does it mean in practice? Well, the first step here is clearly to be involved in each other’s lives. How else can we know what to do, how to help? And, this simply means engaging, perhaps starting with the simple question, “How are you doing?” To be able to step outside our own little bubble, our own selfish focus, to put ourselves “on hold” for a moment. To find out how others are doing. It is of course basic empathy, which is sorely lacking in our world today. As Christians, we should be the example here.
We recently had to travel to spend some time with our grandson. And, as we let some of our brothers and sisters know we were coming, they offered up a place to stay, their vehicle to drive, and made many wonderful meals for us. This enabled us to spend many hours with our grandson, for which we are deeply grateful. I believe this is an excellent example of “bearing one another’s burdens, as Paul instructed. And, Paul added something very interesting to that, often not mentioned, but not to be missed. He said “Bear one another’s burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 ESV
He is saying that, in the sharing and carrying of fellow believers burdens, as we experienced, they “fulfill the law of Christ”. Wow. That is something to really ponder and reflect upon, as we consider how we use our day.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s do better here. Let’s consider what takes up our thoughts and our focus. Is it mostly our own “world”, or are we thinking of and reaching out to brothers and sisters who struggle with heavy burdens? To stop what we are doing to ask them how they are doing? To offer our help, and make their burdens a little lighter.. Let’s “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 ESV