Three Reasons to Be a Burden Bearer

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NKJV

The story is told that in Japan during the war, a boy was carrying his dead brother on his back to bury him. A soldier noticed him and asked him to throw this dead child so that he would not get tired. He replied:
He’s not heavy, he’s my brother! The soldier understood and broke down in tears.

Our focal text for today admonishes us to bear one another’s burdens. Here are three reasons why we must do that.

1. In order to fulfill the law of Christ.

God has called us to live a life of goodness and kindness, not one that is inward-looking. He said we should love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew22:39). Some try to say this in the negative and lose out on the meaning of this verse. I have heard people say ” Do not love your neighbour more than yourself”. Regrettably, there have been times when my own actions said the same thing.

However, those were not the words of Jesus. That’s a humanist selfish philosophy putting a spin on our Saviour’s command. When we say those words in the negative, we reduce their import and mandate. This is because refraining from doing is so much easier than doing. However, in the golden commandment, we are obliged not only to refrain from evil but to do good.

2 . It makes us a lifeline of hope to someone

Just yesterday, I had a message from a pastor who was raising funds for a cash-strapped family. The father had just lost his job, the mother had no source of income and there were three children to take care of. Times are hard for many people and it is easy to look at our own scarce resources and keep ourselves from giving. However, if we would trust God in spite of the economic crisis we find ourselves in and be generous, we would see the goodness of God come through for us.

3. It can bring us into a blessing we never imagined

Ruth a young Moabite woman becomes widowed when her husband passes away. Naomi, her mother-in-law decides to return to her homeland, Judah. Ruth could have bid Naomi goodbye and looked for another husband in Moab to marry. However, she makes the decision to resettle in Bethlehem with Naomi. I am sure her family and her friends may have mocked her sorely for a seeming lack of good judgment (Ruth 1: 1-5, 16 -18)

Because Ruth made this bold decision, God led her to Boaz. He was a rich man and owned a field. She was able to provide for herself and Naomi. Her father-in-law and her deceased husband’s name were maintained in Israel through the lineage of Boaz. More than that, she became part of the ancestry of David king of Israel and of Jesus the Messiah! (Ruth 2:23, 4:22)

Reflection – In what ways can you be a burden bearer today?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. Help us not only to look to our own interests but to that of others as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

You may also want to read: https://floodlightdaily.org/do-you-excel-in-goodness/