How much is one person expected to carry anyway?
The human body has a weight of its own, with muscles and organs, skin, nerves and blood vessels carefully wrapped around its skeletal frame. But the body is designed to carry more than itself.
So it is with the soul. We have room in our hearts and minds for others, for their joys and sorrows, their blessings and burdens. “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4). Paul cites Timothy as an illustration of this: “I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state” (v. 20).
When we “weep with them that weep” (Rom. 12:15), a portion of their sorrow is shouldered by our hearts and some of the tears that they would have to weep now flow from our eyes, making their burden a little lighter. We may think we cannot carry more than our own load, but if we have a heart to help, the Lord will increase our carrying capacity. They say you can tell a lot about a man if, when the burden is heavy, he asks the Lord for a lighter load or a stronger back. The Word of God delineates these burdens that every conscientious believer must face.
OUR OWN BURDEN WHICH WE MUST BEAR
“Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:4-5). The Christian life is described as an arduous race to be run, a weed- and rock-infested field to be cultivated, a ferocious battle to be fought, but never as a picnic or a party. Notice the link in these verses between a man’s work, burden, and rejoicing. As the poet described it: “Be strong! We are not here to play, to dream, to drift, We have hard work to do, and loads to lift. Shun not the struggle—face it; ’tis God’s gift” (M. D. BABCOCK).
While it is true that the Lord called us out of the world to be part of this new society called the Church, it is also true that He has equipped every believer so that, even alone, one has the resources to carry on. The indwelling Spirit, the eternal life of God, the intercessory work of our Great High Priest, prayer access, the panoply of the Lord—these are a few of the amazing resources every Christian has with which to “bear his own burden.” God wants workers, not shirkers.
OTHERS’ BURDENS WE SHOULD BEAR
“Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). It’s a tough world out there; I don’t have to tell you that. A little visiting in the homes of God’s people, a little compassion, a little willingness to be a burden-bearer, and you soon discover that every family has its heartaches. Behind many a smile lurk deep shadows in the soul. The One who “bore the burden to Calvary” introduced this moral law into His realm: when I, like the Good Samaritan, find a wounded life set upon by thieves who would steal from him his joy, peace and security, I must not look the other way. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” is the most often quoted statement in the New Testament, and for good reason. The One called a Samaritan (who did not deny it, Jn. 8:48-49) crossed not a road but the universe to find us where we lay and effect our rescue. “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak” (Rom. 15:1).
WHEN A BURDEN SEEMS TOO HEAVY TO BEAR
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee” (Ps. 55:22). The marginal reading for “burden” is “what He has assigned you.” You may recall the story of the boy who was standing with his arms outstretched to receive firewood from his father. A friend standing by commented, “Isn’t that enough, son?”
“My father knows when I have enough,” he replied.
He does indeed. “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able” (1 Cor. 10:13) but will provide for those occasions when you feel overwhelmed “a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Peter, who cried out in a crisis, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” later wrote, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.” No one ever cared for you like Jesus.
Written by J. B. Nicholson Jr