SHARING BURDENS

Galatians 6:2 New Living Translation

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

         Galatians 5:22-23a [NLT] “… the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

         The law of Christ is love, grace and mercy.  The fruit that is produced in the lives of those who seek it are listed above.  These traits are what make us very different from the world.  Even the best of people without Christ will die and go to hell because it is not by good deeds that we are forgiven from past sins, but rather full acceptance of God’s love for us and his ability to expunge all sin.  We are to share the burdens of our brethren as much as we are allowed.  Some folks refuse assistance of any kind; therefore we are not at fault.  Regretfully, many of us neglect this edict from the Lord for it takes us out of our comfort zone.

            As faithful believers in Christ we must allow the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit that when in full bloom shows the world around us who God is.  Living a quiet, comfortable life is fine, but it’s not what God called each of us to do.  I say this because I too am comfortable in my surroundings.  When Christ returns what will we be doing?  We represent him to this dying world with out lives.  Do others see Christ in us?  We are square pegs trying to fit into round holes.  We will never fit in among those who have rejected Christ, nor should we. 

            One of the greatest temptations for believers is fitting in.  I am guilty of that.  Because I am somewhat quirky, random and eccentric, I will never fit in to a world that wants me to be like them.  God made us what we are and now he wants to tweak us so that we become more like his Son.  If we share each others burdens we will lighten the burden and make it’s conclusion eminent.  English dramatist John Heyward* once said: “Many hands make light work” and he is exactly right. So if we step up as a body of Christ and lift others burdens together we will be an immense blessing!  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.

*John Heywood (c. 1497 – c. 1580) was an English writer known for his plays, poems, and collection of proverbs.

Note: In approximately A.D. 49, the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Southern Galatia; which included the cities of Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.  His purpose for writing the letter was to refute people referred to as Judaizers. They were guilty of teaching the Gentile believers in Southern Galatia  that they must obey Jewish Law to be saved.