Galatians 6: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 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. 6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
This is a complete commandment not two conflicting things. Verse 2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens. Sometimes we feel we can hardly bear our own much less someone else’s. Then verse 5 tells everyone to bear his own burden. This is not a conflict of instruction.
In the old farming days, horses were used to pull wagons. The burden was on the horse but the load was in the wagon. We should be burdened but not loaded down with life is the message. As Christians we need each other. I would have hated to have gone to the field at sunrise to work in the hay and have been the only one to show up to help. I’m glad my cousins came to help. Putting up hay the old way was very hard work. We needed all the help we could get. In the same way, we can’t go it alone. Jesus bore it all and wants us to bear our burdens and share them with each other.
If someone falls down we are to pick them up. The same thing that caused them to fall might at some point get us. Life is just as hard for one of us as it is the other. It takes all of us to get the job done. Let’s not forget each other or leave someone down when they fall. Let’s help one another. Be careful not to take credit for what others do. Do enough helping on your own that you don’t have to steal credit.
We all have burdens to bear and the responsibility to bear what God called us to do. What is my responsibility can’t be shuffled to someone else and likewise for you. I’m accountable and can’t blame others if I fall short of it. Neither can you.
Verse 6 says let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. I’m the pastor but not the know-it-all. I’m not to look at you all like you’re just dumb Christians. I’ve seen people, even preachers, who think they know it all and can’t learn a thing from anyone else. We are to learn from each other. Through the years my learning has not been from commentaries or the internet. A lot of it has been from my brothers and sisters in Christ. Be willing to be teachable. Be a disciple. This means to be a learner. Let others teach us.
Jesus sat on the donkey riding into Jerusalem. The children were yelling praises to him. The Pharisees were there, heard it, and voiced their disgust with the whole thing. They told Jesus he should tell the kids to be silent. He told them that if they didn’t praise him the rocks would. Let’s remember to praise the Lord as we live our lives and bear ours and one another’s burden.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 