Help one another when help needed

What does it look like to bear a burden?

Scriptures tell us in Galatians 6:2 that we are to bear one another’s burdens. In fact, that same scripture says that when we do this, we are fulfilling the law of Christ. Which raises a question: what does bearing a burden look like? 

Well, the word “bear” means “to hold up or support something,” so in essence, this scripture is saying we are to hold up and support one another’s burdens. How do we bear a burden? Well, 1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV) shows us a little bit of this when it says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

If someone suffers, we suffer with them. This doesn’t mean we wallow in their pity, crying on the ground and shouting out, “God, why?” No, this means we support them in life to lessen the load until it's time to rejoice with them. We do this in faith, knowing God will see them out of this trail. 

This can be as simple as being an ear to talk to or a shoulder to cry on, or as complex as financial support until one gets back on their feet. In all of it, we are to share what we have with one another for the sake of our faith. 

We see in James 2:14-18 (ESV) that it says “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

In short, we help one another when help is needed and where help is needed. This takes unity and the understanding that we are all one in Christ Jesus. For in that knowledge, we can see that in the entire body of Christ, that is the church, we have everything we need in each other as well. 

Pastor Scott Acklin ministers at New Fire Ministries.