Bearing Burdens Whose Responsibility Is It?

Introduction We all know people who are down on themselves. We know people who are sorrowful. We know people who are seemingly overwhelmed with problems. We know people who are on the edge of personal destruction. These people are hurting. And we are supposed to help them.

Galatians 6:1-5 Galatians 6:1 …Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. 5 For each man shall bear his own burden.

Bearing Burdens Is there a conflict in the text about who is responsible to bear burdens? Galatians 6:2 …Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.... 5…For each man shall bear his own burden. No - they are both correct - and the context will provide us with an understanding of how we must both bear the burdens of others as well as bearing our own individual burdens.

Every Christian has a responsibility toward meeting the needs of other brethren... Before I can help others, I must first be certain that I am “spiritual” myself... I Corinthians 3:1 …And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able; 3 for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men? I Corinthians 14:37 …If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

We must have a genuine concern for the brother who is in need of spiritual help... James 5:19 …My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins. Romans 15:1 …Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying. 3 For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me. Matthew 7:12 …All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Do we truly care for those who are weak in knowledge and usefulness to the Lord? Romans 14:1 …But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples. Acts 20:35 …In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. I Thessalonians 5:14 …And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. 15 See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.

The needs and welfare of others must always take priority over self... Philippians 2:2 …make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Romans 12:9 …Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; I John 3:18 …My Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.

Prevention is usually always easier and far better than having to be involved in restoring one who has fallen away... Hebrews 5:11 …Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. 12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Are we reaching out to teach, encourage, and extend care to babes in Christ? I Peter 2:2 …as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation; I Corinthians 10:24 …Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's good Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God: 33 even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved. Do we even care about anyone else?

It is not difficult to ignore or ridicule, or even “make fun” of those who are weak and careless in their faithfulness. But it takes a great deal of spiritual strength, dedication, and conscience driven motivation to reach out to those who greatly need our interest, time, and genuine expressions of concern for their welfare. I Corinthians 9:22 …To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 23 And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

Do I think of myself as being “better” than the one whose burden I have the responsibility to bear? Romans 12:9 …Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; 11 in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.

One’s attitude of elevated self worth is the reason given in this text as to why we must accept responsibility for our own self. Galatians 6:3 …For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor. Romans 12:3 …For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. Luke 9:23 …And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 18:9 …And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. 13 But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner. 14 I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Every man is responsible for his own spiritual condition and each man will answer for himself in the judgment... Galatians 6:7 …Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life. Romans 14:12 …So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. II Corinthians 5:10 …For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

The Key To Bearing All Burdens Is Faithfulness... Galatians 6:9 …And let us not be weary in well- doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. I Corinthians 15:57 …but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.

Our responsibility to bear burdens demands that we be active and obedient servants - meeting the spiritual needs of ourselves and others... Galatians 6:10 …So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. Ephesians 4:14 …that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ;

The support and teaching of God’s Word must be our constant priority, and our hearts must be set on spiritual and heavenly pursuits... Galatians 6:6 …But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Colossians 3:1 …If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.

Conclusion Hebrews 3:l2 …Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end: 15 while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. Yes, we have a responsibility to look out and help others with their burdens. But we must also not forget the responsibility to ourselves. Will you take this responsibility seriously?