Bearing One Another's Burden

Galatians 6:2 (NASB)

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Imagine that there is a person standing in front of you struggling with several large packages. You may know them, or you might not. It could be a friend or a stranger. Maybe it's your spouse or maybe it's someone you barely know. Perhaps it's someone you see everyday, or it could be someone you'll only meet once.

Imagine then there before you struggling with several large packages. They've got more than they can carry. The burden is too much for them to bear alone. You see them straining and hurting and aching from the weight of the packages.

Now, what would you do?

Think about it, you're at Wal-Mart or the grocery store and you're standing there with nothing in your own hands. And all of a sudden you notice this person in front of you who is just about to drop their packages because they have more than they can handle. What is your first thought?

Of course, you have the natural urge to give them a hand. You wouldn't just stand there and watch them struggle and drop things when you could easily help them out.

You know, you don't have to use your imagination unless you want to. You can see it in living color every single day of your life.

You see, there ARE those in your pathway, standing right there in front of you, who are struggling with more than they can carry. Oh, it may not be groceries or household items from the department store, but it is a very real burden that weighs them down just the same.

Maybe it's a divorce they are going through. Or, it might be an illness. It could be a relationship problem, a difficult decision, a situation at work, or they could just be having a bad day. There are all kinds of things that weigh us down. Things that we struggle with. Things that leave us straining and hurting and aching from the weight that is upon us.

Someone who is carrying too many packages will be in front of you today. You can count on it. Will you notice them? It might be a friend or a stranger, someone you are close to or someone you barely know someone you see every day or someone you'll only meet once. And they'll be standing there struggling under the weight.

What is your first thought? Will you reach out and give them a hand? Will you do what you can to help meet the need? Will you offer a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on? Will you be someone to help bear the burden in whatever way that you can?

You see, the Bible tells us that we are to "bear each other's burdens." We are to lighten each other's load. We are to help with those spiritual, emotional, mental and physical packages that are weighing each other down.

Today you'll meet someone who is carrying too much.

Will you offer a helping hand?

Dear Lord we pray that our eyes would be open to the one that needs our helping hand today. Help us to show Your love with our actions. In Jesus’ name, Amen.