To "One Another" One Another (Bearing Burdens)

This month I am exploring how we "one another" one another. Check out the link for other posts.

Life is hard.  We each carry a heavy burden.  For some it may be a sickness or a disability.  For others a personality trait that makes relationships difficult.  And for some there are financial struggles. Or maybe there is a mental illness looming large. Sometimes the burden is a repetitive sin.  But the bottom line is that we all carry a weight.

 

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

The Greek word used in the above verse for "burden" is "baros" which means "load".  How does one make a load lighter?  It is simple.  You share it.  When I lived in Argentina it wasn't uncommon to see two people carrying the same bag down the street. Grocery shopping was done almost every day and you would normally shop in a local store and walk home with your food.  If you were with someone (a family member or friend), you would take one of the handles and the other person would take the second handle to carry home the groceries. You would share the load.  That is what Christ asks us to do for our fellow believers. Everyone's life is hard and by carrying the burden for another we can ease the pain whatever it may be.  

How do we bear one another's burdens?

-By restoring them gently when they struggle with sin (See Galatians 6:2)

-By praying for them. 

-By giving words of encouragement

-By checking in on them to see how they are doing

-By loving on them

  

They will know us by our love.