Two Burdens: One You Need Help to Carry, and One Only You Can Carry

Thinking about Galatians 6:1-5.

If you read Galatians 6:1-5, you’ll notice something that may be confusing at first.

First, the Holy Spirit through Paul refers to a “burden” Christians must help each other carry. But then, you read of another “burden” or “load” that must be carried by each individual.

The Burden We Must Help Others Carry.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Sometimes Christians are overtaken in some sin. The picture of the word “overtaken” is someone who gets caught, perhaps by surprise. Imagine a runner with a clear lead – and then suddenly, almost out of nowhere, the lead runner is overtaken by another runner.

The meaning of the word “trespass” is a “side slip” (Strong) or “a false step” (Mounce). It can refer to either unintentional or wilful sin.

All of this reminds us of the deception of sin (Genesis 3). You think you’re doing fine, and then suddenly, you’re not – and that change can happen so quickly it can take anyone by surprise. It can cause Christians who have been overtaken by sin to look around and think, “How did I get here?” It can also cause Christians who have observed their brother or sisters’ fall into sin to be shocked and wonder, “What happened? How did this happen to them?”

When this happens, we have a responsibility to restore them.

Who has this responsibility?

According to the text: those who are “spiritual” – those who are “non-carnal” or “not worldly.” In the context of Galatians, this points back to Galatians 5:16-26 – those who “walk in the Spirit” and are not walking in and practicing the “works of the flesh.”

It means those who have died to self and live to God (Galatians 5:24; 2:20).

What does it mean to restore a Christian in sin?

The word “restore” is also translated as “mend” (Matthew 4:21), “make complete” (Hebrews 13:21), and to be “perfectly joined together” (1 Corinthians 1:10). If a car needs “restoring,” it means there are some things that need repairing to get it back into its original working condition.

Christians who have been overtaken in any sin need “repairing” – and their faithful brethren are commanded to do this.

How must this be done?

First, “in a spirit of gentleness.” This means having a mindset of meekness and humility. When you are repairing something precious and fragile, it requires gentleness.

Second, it also includes “considering ourselves.” If they were overtaken so quickly and somewhat by surprise – could the same kind of thing happen to us?

No one is above having this kind of thing happen to them, and in restoring a brother or sister in sin, it is critically important to restore them with this mindset. If we allow arrogance into our thinking – “That would NEVER happen to me!” or “I would NEVER do that!” – it may be just a matter of time before sin overtakes us too.

Fulfilling the law of Christ.

By taking other’s burdens onto ourselves, we are fulfilling the law of Christ. This also connects back to an earlier passage in the letter (Galatians 5:13-14).

By restoring our brethren overtaken in sin, by taking their burdens upon ourselves – we demonstrate that we love our neighbor as ourselves (Romans 13:8-10).

Isn’t this what Jesus did for us?

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:21-24)

We are called to imitate our Savior and the love He has for us. When we help our brethren after they’ve fallen into some sin - we demonstrate our love for them.

The Key.

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:3)

This verse is the key to being able to do what is commanded before (6:1-2) and after (6:4-5).

If we think too highly of ourselves or our role in the body of Christ (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:11-16), we have deceived ourselves. Now let’s think about this statement in the context of Galatians 6:1-5 – because the application ought to give every one of us pause.

• If you think you’re too important to get down and help your brother or sister carry their burden – then you’ve deceived yourself. You’re not that important.

• Or, if you think you’ve “progressed” beyond needing to examine yourself  - after all, you’ve been a Christian for 50 years, or you’re the preacher, or you’re a leader in the church, or you’re an active Bible class teacher – then you’re deceiving yourself. You’re not that important.

The Scriptures humble those who might tend to think too highly of themselves, while at the same time reminding us that those who might think too little of themselves, or who have fallen into sin, are just as valuable.

The Load We Must Carry Ourselves.  

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. (Galatians 6:4-5)

While there are burdens we must help one another carry, there are also burdens or “loads” that only we can carry.

The “burden” from Galatians 6:2 is the idea of a “weight” while the “load” or “burden” from Galatians 6:5 is the idea of “freight” or “cargo.”

I think what Galatians 6:4-5 is communicating is this: “Don’t compare yourself and what you can do to someone else. Examine yourself and your own work. Don’t worry about what you can’t do or what someone else can’t do. You do what you can do.”

These verses also emphasize that there are some things no one can do for you:

• No one can take your place on the judgment day (2 Corinthians 5:10).

• No one can obey the gospel for you (2 Corinthians 5:11, 20-21).

Jesus has died for you, but you must decide what you will do with Him.

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There are some burdens that only you can carry.

When a brother or sister stumbles and falls into sin, we have an obligation to help them.

Let’s not think too little, or too much, of ourselves to do what we ought to do.

Let’s always strive to imitate the example of our Lord and the love He has for each of us.