Bear The Burdens Of Others

-September 29, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Paul had a tremendous love for all the saints. He always thought of them and prayed for them. He urges us to follow his example of love.

It sounds simple enough, “Bear one another’s burdens…” In actuality it is extremely hard. After all we all have our own issues, problems, and burdens. The flesh thinks of oneself above anyone else; the Spirit teaches us to think of others first and help them.

Jesus taught us to live for others, bearing their burdens in His name. A burden is defined as, “a load, a typically heavy one; something that is carried.” We should bear and share the load of others.

Burdens come in many forms in various weights. Burdens or loads may be spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, financial or material. With these burdens come stress, pain, and hardship.

There are different things we can do to bear another’s burdens. Prayer is always needed, but we shouldn’t stop there. We need to lend a hand to help, give others money as needed, be a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen to. We can give a hug or speak a comforting word.

John pointedly wrote, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).

In bearing the burdens of others we fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is the law of love. Job’s three friends started off with the intention of bearing Job’s burdens, but soon blamed him, accusing him of sin. Instead of bearing his burdens they added to his burdens, which only made things worse.

Have a blessed day as burden bearers. Stay safe and healthy.

When you bear someone’s burden, you show Christ’s love in action.

Dean