When Help Is Needed

“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2 (ESV).

In almost everyone’s life that I know about, there comes a time when help is needed.  Maybe you are a very independent type, one who keeps on bearing your own load rather than asking for help.  You may feel that seeking help shows an inherent weakness, and most of us do not like to own up to weaknesses and inabilities to do for ourselves.  In the context of this command from Paul to bear one another’s burdens, he begins with saying that if anyone is “caught in any transgression,”—that is, any who need help in finding their way back into fellowship with God and with Christian believers, those who are “spiritual,”—or those who have more experience and maturity in the Christian life—should lovingly help any who have stepped aside from following after Christ.  This is not to be done in a “holier than thou” manner, but in the love and Spirit of the Lord.  Helping them to “fulfill the law of Christ” probably refers specifically to “love your neighbor as yourself” as admonished in Matthew 22:39 and John 13:34.

I remember the wonderful group of youth it was my privilege to lead at Epworth First Baptist Church when my husband was pastor there.  God worked in a mighty way to call out several of them to full-time Christian service and many of them also became very faithful lay leaders in churches as they grew into committed Christian adulthood.  At one group session we were discussing why it is difficult to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  Rhonda, wise beyond her years, made the profound statement:  “Maybe it is because we do not love and respect ourselves.”  Her statement gave us all food for thought and a subject for further exploration.  And perhaps directly related to Rhonda’s statement that we do not love others because we do not love (respect) ourselves as we should, we also do not bear one another’s burdens because we are reluctant to allow someone to help us with our own burdens. 

Dr. Charles Stanley gave this timely statement in one of his sermons:  “The walk of  love  is expressed in a servant spirit.  You look to channel your talents and energies toward encouraging and stimulating others."  Bearing our own burdens is sometimes hard.  We often need help and should appreciate when others seek to assist us.  Likewise, in our Christian walk, it is not easy to seek to help others bear their burdens.  When we meet someone who is struggling, we should take the time and make an effort to help them.  And don’t forget to pray for them.   Eugene Peterson’s The Message translation of the Bible gives Galatians 6:2-3 thus:  “Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed.  Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.  If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.”

                                                                                                                       -Ethelene Dyer Jones  10.27.2013