Help Each Other Out

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

(Galatians 6:2)

I used to think that carrying another’s burdens was the same as bringing in the groceries after my wife went shopping. I’m told, when I was a small child, I was very helpful. However, as I reached my teen years, I became less and less concerned with being helpful. Some would say that’s normal behavior for a teenager. Maybe it is, but that attitude continued through to adulthood for me. It was nearly complete selfishness that drove me. At work, I was friendly enough on the outside, but I wouldn’t do much to ease whatever weight you had to carry. Even at home, my relationship with my wife and children was possessive and self-centered.

I went to a Christian crusade, thinking I was too smart to fall for some religious, pie-in-the-sky promise of life after death. However, it felt like the Holy Spirit was speaking directly to me through the voice of an evangelist. His message of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, broke through my stony heart. It wasn’t pie-in-the-sky, empty promises; it was a sure and confident hope I’d never felt before. My heart ached for how I’d behaved in the past. I immediately wanted to change and find a way to follow Christ, and at that moment, I gave my life to him. It took a little bit of time, but he has changed that stony heart into a servants heart.

My attitude towards others changed radically after that. I started attending church and soon found ways to serve there. My relationships outside of church were also improving because of my new-found love for everyone. I am now blessed to show the love of Christ to others with my acts of service to them. In the past, I would have thought it a weakness, but now I consider it a privilege to help someone through a difficult time. I know my acts of service do not save me, only the blood of Jesus does that. I show my faith in Christ by my service to others.

Even though you many not serve the same way as me, or other believers like me, you are charged to lift other’s burdens when you can. When you see or hear of a problem or difficulty someone is having, do what you can to help. It might be helping someone move to a new house. If someone has lost a close family member and needs an ear to listen, you be that ear. Maybe someone needs an encouraging voice telling them Jesus loves them, you be that voice. We may not be our brother’s keeper but we should be our brother’s helper.

Heavenly Father, you have no equal. You could wipe out your creation with the breath of your mouth but instead, you hold everything together with a mere thought. You could justly ignore us for our transgressions against you and each other but instead, you gave your Son, as a perfect sacrifice, to pay the price for our sins. Jesus died on the cross to carry the burden of our sins away. Teach us, Lord, to carry each other’s burdens. Give us a heart like Jesus, to show the people we meet that we love them and want to help them with whatever their struggling with. The law of Christ has set us free from the bondage of sin so, remind us, Father, that we have become the slaves of Christ, in service to the work of your Kingdom. Please, challenge us to be each other’s encourager, always lifting each other up. Give us a heart to pray for each other. Let us discern a brother or sister’s needs, even if they do not ask. We ask and pray this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and King. Amen!