Share The Burden

 

Scripture: Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Devotion:

Christians as a people should be a people who share one another’s burdens. Not only the physical burdens but spiritual ones too. Each and every one of us carries some kind of burden. Whether it's a private grief, an unseen emotional burden, or some hidden pressure. The call of the Christian is to love your brother or sister in the Lord and to be there for them. Being a Christian means never walking alone.

The word bear means to “lift, carry, shoulder” what is heavy for someone else. We must remember that everyone carries a burden of some kind. Some have been carrying the same burden for years. There are no perfect saints who live without something weighing them down. Common burdens in our modern society are: grief, anxiety, finances, family conflict, and spiritual discouragement.

Paul is not addressing the light, easy burdens we each must bear alone. These words are meant for those heavy, crushing weights that require community support. If you are being crushed under the weight of some heavy load that you are finding it difficult to bear, then you must honestly confess that to the church community so that they can come around you and support you in your time of need.

How can I share my fellow believer’s burdens? There are many ways: listening, praying, presence, tangible help, verbal and written encouragement. The ministry of being present, just sitting with a person who is in pain, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, is often all that is needed. And in our society, that is often missing from people’s lives. When we are a people who love one another well, then bearing burdens will be as natural as eating when you are hungry. Bearing each other's burdens is not optional; it is a requirement of Christian discipleship. Doing this reflects the love Jesus showed on the cross.

Jesus bore on the cross our unbearable burden of sin, guilt, shame, and finally death. Because He bore our burden, we are freed and empowered to bear each other's burdens. Our burden-bearing is a dim echo compared to what Jesus suffered for us. Keep an eye out for those who may be quietly suffering. Offer yourself to come alongside them and give whatever assistance you can. Invite them to share their burden with the community so that, by sharing, the burden may be made lighter. They will know we are Christians by our love.

Prayer:

Lord, help us to bear and share our burdens with you and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. May we be a people who share both the joys and concerns of this life. May we show the world your love and faithfulness by being a loving, sharing community of believers. Lead us toward being the kind of community you want us to be. May our lives be at least a dim reflection of Jesus for the world to see. Amen.