“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV)
We are living in the most connected age in history. The lightning-quick speed of communication and the vast array of communication methods we have are astounding. I am old enough to have seen the development of many of these methods. I have gone through having only a home phone to my own mobile phone to a number of different ways you can reach me now.
Yet despite the technological advances, people are more disconnected from each other on a personal and spiritual level. This disconnection is one area in which the Church needs to step into the void.
Passing Along What Was Done for Us
In Galatians, Paul calls us to “carry each other’s burdens.” And isn’t this literally what Jesus did by going to the cross for us? Jesus takes the crushing burdens that weigh our shoulders down. He does this because He loves us. I am convinced that when Christians start following His example by helping with each other’s burdens, we will see an explosion in people coming to Jesus. There are few better ways to show people the love of Jesus than by carrying out this call from Paul.
But first, we need to understand the underlying reason Paul told us to help carry each other’s burdens. Everything in life, whether good or evil, traces its roots back to Eden and/or our fall into sin. Human beings were never designed for sin or for the consequences of sin. We were designed for joy and fellowship with the Father and with each other. This is why before the fall there were no burdens, depression, violence, or hatred. This is why at the end of Revelation, God takes away all the pain and tears of this broken world. When sin entered the world, it created burdens that drag us down and which we need help carrying.
“When sin entered the world, it created burdens that drag us down and which we need help carrying.”
Although there are more burdens in any one neighborhood than could be listed here, here are three examples:
- The burden of loneliness. When you know someone is lonely, invite them to break bread with you. Jesus loved to fellowship and share a meal with people. We need to follow his example. And do not merely issue a general invitation; put it on the calendar.
- The burden of being a single mother. This is one that is close to my heart. Men of the church need to step up and help the single mothers in our churches. Especially boys need godly men in their lives. Men of the church can help by being that male figure in a boy’s life to put them on the right path to God.
- The burden of defeatism. I see a lot of defeated people in the world today. I see people resigned to the state of affairs we have been presented with. This state of defeatism isn’t part of Jesus’ teachings. He knew how to change the world, and He knows that we can do it. We need to bring people back to the hope of Jesus. We not only need to tell about our hope but show people that, with the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can make a difference in this world.
So, how can we follow our King’s example by helping carry each other’s burdens? What are some practical ways that we can answer this call?
“How are you doing—really?”
One of the best and simplest ways that we can help people carry burdens is by listening. We live in an age of distraction and shortened attention spans. I will admit that listening to someone requires me to put away those distractions. It requires me to not be thinking first about what my response will be or even first what quick, easy solution I might be able to offer them for their problems. It requires for us to be fully present in the conversation and to keep an open mind to absorb the information.
There are far too many people in this world that do not have someone in their lives that listens to them. In return, those people tend to seal themselves off from the world. Henry David Thoreau said it best: “ The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
“There are far too many people in this world that do not have someone in their lives that listens to them.”
“Where is this path leading?”
Another great way to help people carry their burdens is meeting people where they are in their life and continuing the relationship past that point. This is straight out of the Jesus playbook. He meets you where you are, but He never leaves you in that place. Instead, He walks with you. He is there when you stumble and fall. He is there to keep you putting one foot in front of the other.
This is the true notion of love. The word “love” has become devalued in our society. The truth is, it is not loving to blindly accept whatever a person feels compelled to do, nor is it hate to disagree with someone. If I truly love someone, then I can help them carry whatever the burden may be. At the same time, love also dictates that I tell someone when they are on the wrong path.
Love means gently giving biblical advice on life. We must not leave people in the muck. The call for Christians is to help people grow in their faith.
“How can I pray for you?”
The most important practical step is to pray for people to find Jesus and help them find Him. I do not mean helping them find a nominal faith that makes them feel good about themselves for a short period of time. I mean the kind of faith that allows people to go through the darkest valleys and come out the other side still praising Jesus.
The hard truth is that we are just people. I do not have all of the answers, and I cannot provide the peace that surpasses all understanding. However, I do know someone that can do that. Jesus provides everyday hope. He provides the ability to maneuver through a world that is broken. Prayer is a big component of helping people find Jesus and see His power.
I implore you to take this part with the utmost seriousness. When it comes to prayer, it’s good to pray for them on our own, but it’s also important to call the person, meet with them, and pray with them. It needs to be an intimate and vulnerable call to the Father together.
“It needs to be an intimate and vulnerable call to the Father together.”
All people worship something or someone. It is wired into us from Eden. Thus, the question is not, do people worship, but whom do they worship? This is why burdens becomes so crushing. Whatever a person was worshipping betrays them in no longer providing that peace they were banking on. Find people in your lives that need Jesus, help carry their burdens, and point them toward the One who, in the end, will remove every burden and wipe away every tear. Helping them toward Jesus is the ultimate act of love, and He is the only person with power to transform what weighs them down into what draws them into His grace.
