Bearing Our Burdens

Introduction

Good morning.

How would you answer this easy question this morning? How are you? Most of us would probably say, I’m good. I’m fine. Have you ever asked someone that question? How are you? And they replied, I’m fine. But you knew they weren’t. Something in their countenance, something the way they answered that question, though in the positive, told you that in reality they should have answered it in the negative. Have you ever answered that question incorrectly? I’m fine. When you really weren’t.

And though I’m not advocating this as a daily ritual, I want to co-op the words of that song for this morning’s lesson and say, Count your many burdens. Name them one by one. Do you have any burdens? Sure you do. Our experience may not be quite as bad as Job’s, but we do not dispute his words when he said in the fourteenth chapter in the first verse of the book of Job that man’s life is short and full of troubles. Life’s full of burdens. If we began to list those burdens, we would find them in varying categories. There’s just the general burdens of life. The constancy of life, of work, of routines. There’s the burden sometimes of family and family problems and difficulties. There’s the burden of physical sickness, whether yours or someone that you love.

There are financial burdens. And of course, there’s the burden of sin.

So this morning I’d like to talk to you about this pleasant topic of the burdens of life. But I believe it will end up being a pleasant topic because, thankfully, for homiletic purposes, the scriptures tell us that there are three categories of people who are to help us bear our burdens. Turn with me, if you will, starting in the book of Galatians, chapter 6. As we consider the burdens of life. Galatians chapter 6, verses 2 through 5, at first glance, depending upon what translation of the scriptures you’re reading from, may sound like a contradiction. Because it says in Galatians 6, verse 2, bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And in verse 5 says, for each one shall bear his own load, the new King James Version says, some translation says, each man shall bear his own burdens.

1. Each One Shall Bear His Own Load

And so there’s a hint to our first two points of the lesson this morning. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and each man should bear his own burdens. And so let’s talk, talking about our burdens and who is going to bear our burdens. First of all, we understand there are no contradiction in scriptures. There’s no contradiction in this context. There’s actually two different words used there for burdens in verse 2 and burdens in verse 5. Two different words, two different concepts. And we’ll explain that as we go along. But first, let’s talk about the idea explained in Galatians 6, verse 5, that we are to bear our own burdens, to bear our own load. The scriptures speak frequently of individual responsibility. And that is that God expects of each of us individually to do our part, to bear our own load, to share our part of the responsibility.

And some of these burdens, some of these responsibilities, are absolutely non-transferable.

No one can confess your sins. No one can repent for the sins that are in your life, and no one can be baptized for you for the remission of your sins. Those are actions that you must take personally and individually. That becomes apparent and real to us when as children begin to at first just to mimic the belief and the practices of their parents. But at some point, when they reach what we often call the age of accountability, they come to the realization that, number one, that they are responsible for their own actions, including their own sins. And then secondly, that faith must be their own. That a faith that at first was simply borrowed from our parents must now become my own. I don’t believe, I don’t go to some particular church, I don’t act in a certain way just because that’s what my parents taught me.

There comes to a point of a state of maturity where I understand that this faith must be my own, and I must live it as my own.

They must be done individually. One danger of the hypercorporate nature of the church is that we begin to excuse ourselves, incorrectly so, but to excuse ourselves from any kind of individual action on our part. We do what we might call institutionalizing the church. That the church becomes this grand entity full of good works. And so if someone asks me, what have I done in Christian service? My reply will be, I gave it the office. Or I gave it the church building. And now it’s the church’s responsibility. From teaching my children about the Bible. Well, we’ve got Bible classes at the church. That’s who’s teaching my children the Bible. To praising and serving God. Well, that’s what the church is for. To helping my fellow man, my brother in Christ, who may be suffering, whether spiritually, mentally, physically, or financially, well, the church needs to get on that.

Don’t we have a deacon for that? And while there are many responsibilities that are to be fulfilled corporately by a group of people, none of these excuse or relinquish my opportunity and my responsibility to serve God as an individual Christian.

Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 4. We understand this concept. Paul in the book of Romans, we’re turning to Hebrews chapter 4, but as we’re turning there, contemplate Romans chapter 14, where Paul says, For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Does that not bespeak individual responsibility? That I’ll stand before God individually. Now, I don’t know how the mechanics of that judgment day will play out, probably far different than anything I can imagine in my mind. But if I could order it the way I wanted it, I would do two things. Number one is I would want to make sure who I was behind in that line. I would get behind the worst of the people. So that hopefully by contrast, I’d look better than the last guy who stood before the judgment seat.

Another thing I might do if I had the choice is I might want to, instead of standing before him individually, I might want to choose a group of people that I thought pretty confidently were going to make it to heaven and kind of just stand with them. And as difficult as it might be for me, though the spirit body may be different than this physical body, I might try to shrink in behind them a little bit so that I’m not noticed as much. But notice what Hebrews chapter 4 tells us. Hebrews chapter 4 and in verse 13, and there is no creature hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. We’re not dismissing group work this morning.

Group activity and the obligation that we have to be a part of a local church. But please understand that each man is to bear his own load. That you cannot console yourself with the fact that I found the right church. They’re good people, they teach the Bible. They do just what the Bible says, nothing more and nothing less, and so I’m in with the right group. Job done. That’s not a biblical concept. Now that’s an important concept to be a part of the right group. But equally a biblical concept is for you to be an active part of that group. Fulfilling your individual responsibility, bearing your own burden. Look in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, of the importance of this, even from a group concept.

Paul, both in Romans 12 and in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, speaks of this body concept. Comparing the church, the body of Christ, to the physical body. And the comparison, you know, is this that just like the physical body is one, it is made up of a lot of different members with a lot of different jobs. And Paul is going to say, or the Holy Spirit through Paul is going to say, so is the body of Christ. There’s unity.

But there is the diversity of gifts and of works that can be accomplished. Look there in 1 Corinthians 12, if you’ve turned there, verse. Let’s start in verse 18. 1 Corinthians 12, verse 18, but now God has set the members, each of them in the body, just as he’s pleased. And if they’re all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. No, much rather those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor.

And our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ and members individually. Paul is emphasizing the importance not just of the group, not just of the body, but of the individual members of that body. And the individual responsibilities that we have, even being a part of a group. You see, a group and a group mentality does not diminish nor eliminate individual responsibility.

It emphasizes it. Because if one part of the body is not accomplishing its work, two things happen. Number one, that body is not able to do what it ought to do. Whether we’re talking about our physical body or the spiritual body of Christ. If one part of the body is not doing its part, the body suffers as a result of that. The body can never be what it ought to be unless every part is functioning. Secondly, if one part of the body is not fulfilling its responsibilities and duties, the other parts of the body suffer.

You don’t say, ah, that’s no big deal. That’s just one organ. I’ve got a bunch of other organs. No. The other organs began to suffer, don’t they? And so it is in the body of Christ. That when one member fails to fulfill their individual responsibilities, carry their burdens, then by default, someone else has to carry their burdens and yours. And the body suffers.

2. Bear One Another’s Burdens

But also in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 2, we have that interesting contrast to where before saying that we are to fulfill our own individual responsibility to carry our own load that God has placed upon us. He tells us in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 2, he tells us that some burdens are to be shared. Galatians 6, verse 2, bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Bear one another’s burdens. He’s obviously not talking about individual responsibility that can be borne by that individual only. But there are some burdens that of necessity need to and have to be shared. I think the key to Galatians 6 verse 2 is Galatians 6 verse 1. In what way, or at least one example in which we are to share one another’s burdens?

Look at chapter 6, verse 1, brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. One of the grand and most beneficial aspects of the body of a group, of a team, is that we can look out for one another. That when one member falters and falls, the other members’ burden is to help, to seek out that member. This is the blessing of discipline, is it not? That we help, that we encourage and even at times admonish one another. Helping each other bear our burdens. We’re to seek those that are gone astray. And he talks about how that was to be done, that you restore them in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

I don’t know that I’ve shared this thought with you yet or not. I’m not sure. The last part of verse one, what he means when he says, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Is he saying that here’s a brother who has fallen away with some particular sin? Is he saying you go to that one, remembering that you too can be tempted to sin? That you might be guilty of that same sin or a similar sin at some point in your life. And so you go to them with that spirit in mind. Not this, how dare you. You’ve sinned, I wouldn’t do that. I’ve never done and will never do it. Is it that attitude of considering yourself lest you also be tempted into that same arena of sin?

Or is he saying you go to that one who has fallen and sinned, considering yourself lest you be tempted in how you treat that brother? That you may sin not in the same way in which he has sinned, but you may be tempted to sin in regard to how you treat him. That itself could be a sin. Going to that brother who has fallen in a hateful, spiteful way, may in itself be sin, and there’s the temptation. Are considering yourself lest you be tempted to not even go to him, to just look at him as you pass by, as the priest and the Levite did, and be tempted to sin the sin of neglect. But he says, considering them, helping them bear that burden. And in so doing, he says, verse two of Galatians six, so fulfill the law of Christ.

Christ is placed as our example, as the mark as to how we’re to love one another. Love as Christ has loved and given himself for us. I think we’ve all been moved and touched by the concept of what a high mark that is. That I, the scriptures command me, that I am to love you the way Christ loved me. That’s a high hurdle. But I fear sometimes that maybe I have used the height of that mark really as a cop out. Because I’m to love you as Christ has loved me, he gave himself, he literally died for me.

And I’m supposed to do that for you. And so here’s the way I’ll apply that. If the occasion ever arises, I’ll die for you. In other words, if some Sunday morning somebody walks into the back of the auditorium here and rolls a hand grenade down the aisle, I’ll fall on that hand grenade for you. Now I can say that because I know the odds are that’s never going to come up. But if it does, I’m there. That’s an abuse of the high standard of Jesus’ love for us. I don’t think the scriptures are saying you love one another as Jesus loved, and if it ever comes to it and you need to die, you’ll die for them. But that’s the only time that you really need to love people the way Jesus loved you.

That’s not the principle, is it? The principle is in that self-sacrificing, self-effacing way that I will always, whether in grand gestures or more likely in many small gestures, I will always put you first. That I will sacrifice, though I may rarely be called upon to make great sacrifices, I will sacrifice in small ways. Every day I’ll find a way to put you first. Every day I’ll find a way to help you bear your burden. Now that requires two things of all of us. Number one, if you have burdens that are burdening you down. Please share them. And so if somebody says, How are you doing? Don’t say fine if you’re not fine. Say I’ve got a burden. Would you help me bear it? Would you pray with me about this burden?

Whether it be physical or more importantly, spiritual. You know, it amazes me that it’s almost human nature that we don’t mind the man who’s making announcements, getting up and sharing our most intimate physical secrets. That we’re going to have an embarrassing surgery performed, and I want everybody to know about it and pray about it. We don’t mind sharing that information. But there’s something mortifying of getting up and saying, I’m going through some spiritual problem. Satan is working on me hard. Would you pray for me? Now there’s nothing wrong with saying, pray for my physical ailments, pray for this surgery, this physical trial I’m going through. But those aren’t the greatest burdens of life. Why not say, I’m going through a spiritual crisis? And I want you to know about it so you can help me.

3. Cast Our Cares Upon Him

I’m going through the valley of the shadow of death, spiritually speaking. I am being tempted. Would you pray with me? Help me through this spiritual struggle. Second thing that must be done, those of us who are able, you who are spiritual must be willing to share that load and to bear that burden. Be aware. Be alert to those needs. That even if someone’s reply to your query is, oh, I’m fine, it’s okay to say, no, you’re not. What’s wrong? And can I help? Or maybe more properly, how can I help? And so we are to bear our own burdens. We’re to help one another bear burdens. But there are some burdens that are humanly unbearable. And thankfully, we serve a powerful God who has on numerous occasions told us that we are to cast our cares upon him.

For he cares for us. Look in 1 Peter chapter 5. There’s a lot of places that we could go that talk about God’s willingness. We serve a God that is in the perfect combination, that he is both able, more than able to help and to come to our aid, and he is willing more than willing. When you have those two together, someone who has the resources to be able to help and is more than willing to help, that’s the perfect combination. And that’s our perfect God. A God who would say to us in 1 Peter chapter 5 and in verse 7, casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you. What an humbling thought.

Conclusion

And he cares for me. The greatest burden, of course, is the burden of sin. The prophet Isaiah said that he bore our burdens. When he bore our stripes, that when God thrust upon him our sin, so that he would pay the price that we could not pay. And so I cast my burdens upon him. Knowing the love, the care, the compassion that he has, and knowing because we’ve read the last chapter of this book, knowing how the story will end. Will you pray with me? Dear God and Father in heaven, we’re so thankful that you’re our God. We’re so thankful that you have given us work to do, responsibilities and burdens that we must bear, and we pray, Father, that we’ll be better, better disciples and better servants.

We’re so thankful that you’ve put us together with other people who care and love you and love us, that will help us to bear our burdens, to lighten our load. Most importantly, Father, we’re so thankful that you’re a loving, compassionate God, and that you will bear our burdens with us, that we can cast our cares upon you, that we can come to you in prayer and expect a positive response from a loving Father. And we’re so thankful, Father, that you will help us with the greatest burden, the burden of guilt and sin and death. We’re so thankful that your loving Son would be the remedy for that burden, that our load might be lifted. And that we might live a life of hope and joy and prosperity.

Be with us as we work and labor together, Father, as we share these burdens and carry our burdens to you. Help us to be the type of burden bearers that you would have us to be. And help us always to turn and look to you. Keep loving us, Father. Keep protecting, forgiving. And most of all, Father, own us on that day of judgment. This is our humble prayer in your Son’s name. Amen.