How to Bear One Another’s Burdens

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.”Galatians 6:1-5

C.S. Lewis wrote that “mankind is one vast need.” How true. Emotional, physical, financial, marital, parental, and a horde of other demands weigh us down and keep us preoccupied with finding solutions to our abundance of problems. It is this common predicament that often renders us unavailable to help others in their time of need. How can we help others with their problems when we are so overwhelmed with our own?

What we need is a spiritual perspective that allows us to deal with our set of problems so we are free to minister to others. One of the most satisfying endeavors for a Christian is supporting hurting believers. It refreshes us as well as them. That can begin with an outlook that “seeks first the kingdom of God” (Matt. 6:33). God cares for us, values us, and promises that if we make His priorities ours, He will provide our needs - all of them.

That freedom continues as we learn to daily cast our burdens on Christ. Jesus was a burden bearer for our sins and is a burden bearer for our everyday problems. The load becomes His, not ours; and suddenly we have room in our hearts for the burdens of others.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden...” Psalm 68:19