Verse of the Day 9-22-22

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

When Paul is talking about burdens here what exactly is it he is talking about? Is he talking about sins, which could be a correct way to read this verse because of what verse 1 says¹? Not necessarily, because the burdens of life can include all sorts of weighty problems: physical problems, relational problems, financial problems and emotional problems. So what then is Paul telling us here in this short verse? He is telling us that as believers we are to serve our fellow believers as a spotter serves a weight lifter. If you don’t know what a spotter does when it comes to weight lifting here is very simple explanation. A spotter is the person who is standing beside the person lifting weights to take some of the strain off of that person when the burden of lifting that heavy weight becomes too much.

And now we come to the real heart of the matter: What does carrying the burden on another believer look like or what form does this action take? Unfortunately there is not one simple way to carry each other’s burdens, simply because the burdens of life don’t come in one simple form. However, some of the unlimited number of ways that we can help carry each other’s burdens include: prayer, making time for a person, providing practical assistance, giving financial assistance and providing a listening ear. Because such burden bearing “will fulfill the law of Christ,” the law of love.

Notes:

1. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

Today’s Bible Readings:

Isaiah 39:1-41:16, Ephesians 1, Psalm 66:1-20 and Proverbs 23:25-28