Welcome to Hank’s Place —
A number of years ago there was Come Alive Radio – we broadcast on the world’s most powerful privately owned short wave radio station and covered all of Africa – and other continents, too, with twice daily messages encouraging people to COME ALIVE. We received lots of mail from many countries, and some would cite Galatians 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ,” and then demanded our support for their projects, churches or themselves – or else we were not being true Christians.
Perhaps something similar has happened to you. Is that what Paul meant? Of course not! Check out those first 5 verses in Galatians 6. Keep them in their context. If a person stumbles into error, is overtaken in a trespass, not intentional, repetitive sinning, more of a sense of “Oops! That’s wrong!” — then a spiritual person – that’s someone well acquainted with their own weaknesses — and God’s mercies – should help that person.
The Greek words paint a picture of a person sagging under a heavy load, and someone helping restore that person to what they were before, like fishermen mending their nets.
So, when you look for or happen to see a brother or sister with such a burden, if you too are aware of your own weaknesses, simply help them. Not complicated. Not needing a big church program. In bearing another’s burden we are fulfilling the Law of Christ.
The Law of Christ is simply to love one another, as Christ has loved us. The passage goes on with a caution about falling into pride, because it can sure be tempting to think what a great Christian we are when we stoop down to bail someone out of their troubles. Remember Philippians 2:3-4, to esteem others better than ourselves, to look out not only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others? Good to live that way.
What about verse 5, “For each one will bear his own load?” There Paul is speaking of our personal accountability before God. Earlier in verse 2 he is speaking of our need to care for others in the Body of Christ and he uses the word ‘heavy burden’ – something more than a man should carry. ‘Bear his own load’ in verse 5 is a different word, a common term for a man’s backpack. That load is something intended for us alone.
So – while we are all responsible for our own work, we can and should help bear the overwhelming burdens of our brethren caught up in a trespass. And as conduits of God’s grace — we’ll COME ALIVE!
So – Let’s let Him lift our head today — we’ll COME ALIVE!
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