OUR OWN BURDEN

Gal 6:3-5 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But 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.

In this epistle to the churches in Galatia, Paul tells us, in the first two verses of this chapter, that obedience to Christ's law of love allows Christians to bear the burdens of other men and women, who are carrying an extremely difficult load in life, one that may be filled with trials, temptations and suffering. As obedient Christians, this, indeed, we must do. However, the lesson text tells us that in order to lift the load of others, and help them bear their burdens, a Christian must be able to bear his or her own burden. It would be impossible to bear the burdens of others if we cannot bear our own. The truth is that every man or woman must give an account of his or her own life before God. Are we carrying our burdens as we should? And are we also bearing the burdens of others as we should?

In order to bear one's own burdens, a man or woman is not to think himself (or herself) to be something, when he (or she) is nothing. And, if they do, they deceive themselves. A person must not think that they are so strong, mentally or physically, that help will not be needed to cope with life's burdens. At some time in each and every life, a person will need the helpful, sympathetic, and caring shoulder of another to lean on for support. A person that thinks they are above burden of temptation, and will never give in to the allure of sin, is deceiving himself or herself. This person will also look on others with an extremely critical eye, and recognize sins in their lives.

One cannot fulfill God's law of love, if they think more highly of themselves than they do of others. The sympathy and compassion that God requires of each of us, comes only from a Christian, having the understanding, that they too may fall under the physical and mental burdens of life. Looking only at the frailty and moral weaknesses of others, one may develop an egoistic attitude about themselves that "looks down" on the lives of their fellow human beings. When we compare ourselves to others, a self-deceiving disposition may result from a "high opinion" of oneself. The problem is that we have the tendency to compare ourselves to others that generally have lower moral characteristics than our own. What we must do, when we examine our own lives, is compare ourselves to Jesus Christ. He is the only pattern of life that we should aspire to imitate.

But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. Instead of examining others, looking for their faults, and pointing accusing fingers at their frailties and weaknesses, every man and every woman should look inwardly at the conduct of their own lives. Examine the "fruits" that result from it, and compare them to the Christian standards that are recorded by Holy Spirit-inspired writers of God's word through His Son, Jesus Christ. Here, and only here, can one's work be proven to be what God expects from His children. Then, and only then, can one rejoice in attaining the high marks of His standards. Never are we to rejoice in the fact that we find ourselves to have spiritual and moral standards that are "better" than those of another person.

Verse two preceding tells us of the burden we, as Christians, must bear for others. That burden is their trials, temptations, and suffering. We must relieve the strenuous loads of others that are too difficult for them to bear alone. In so doing, we fulfill the law of love, which Christ taught, and exemplified, in His life on earth. The sympathetic compassion and sincere love for others will convict the heart of every obedient Christian, giving them the desire and will to lift the load of others, and carry their burden of life, whenever we can do so, whatever that burden may be.

However, Paul also says the every man shall bear his own burden. Some may see a conflict between verses 2 and 5, however, there is none. There is a burden of personal responsibility to God that can only be bourn by oneself. All will be judged by their own works. On the final Day of Judgment ...the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works (Matt. 16:27). Each and every man and woman that has ever lived on the face of the earth shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Rom. 14:10-12). Bearing one another's burdens is a necessary Christian work that God expects of His children during life here on earth. It is necessary in order for God to lift the burden we face daily, and especially on Judgment Day.