BURDENS

BURDENS!

Gal 6:2-5

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Three concepts are found in these verses that will likely engage us as this day dawns.

1. We are to help others carry their burdens!

           David complains of his sin and says: "Mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me" (Ps 38:4). The law of Christ is that we should love one another. Love prompts us to move quickly alongside a brother who is about to “lose it” or to drop it. How many of our brethren are so burdened that they are ready to quit? How many will we meet today with a smile on their face and a tear in their eye? Their shoulders are stooped and sore from carrying a heavy load.

2. We are to prove our own work!

           In this we see the almost lost concept of personal responsibility. Adam blamed Eve for his downfall and Eve passed the buck to the serpent. It’s been happening that way with man ever since! The battle cry of our age is: “It’s not my fault.” A young man sitting in jail may ask a visitor, “Why has this happened to me?” The answer is that you robbed a bank. Had you NOT robbed the bank you would still be free. The burden of personally proving our own work belongs to each of us. The Amplified New Testament puts it this way:

Gal 6:4 AMP

4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

3. Some burdens must be borne alone!

           The Greek word translated “burden” in verse 5 is different from the word used in verse 2. Here the word means “an invoice” or “ships freight.” It is the only place in all of Paul’s writings that he uses this word. The word refers to the “bill of lading” and refers to something of great value. Each of us will stand in judgment and receive our own reward.

Dear Lord, although I am burdened with my own load, help me to lighten the load of a brother or sister today. AMEN