Loving Hands

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

Not too long ago, my wife and I were taking a walk around the community. As we went, we saw the neighbor across the street trying to get a large parcel into his house. He was an elderly fellow and the package was too large and heavy for him. It was too much for one person, especially one who was somewhat frail. So, we picked it up and took it into his house. This is what good neighbors do. We extend loving hands to help when someone has to carry something that is heavy.

After writing that the spiritual person must seek to restore a brother fallen in any transgression, Paul commanded believers to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Spiritual people, those led by the Spirit, will help carry the heavy loads by which others burdened.

Here there are a few questions that need to be answered. What are the burdens that we are to bear, how are we to do it, and what is the law of Christ?

First, what is the “law of Christ?” Once Jesus met with His disciples and gave them this new old command. It was old because it was a command specifically given in the Old Testament, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18, ESV), that was reinforced by Jesus (Matt 22:39). Yet it was new in depth and in practice as Jesus presented this to His disciples,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34, ESV).

John further reinforced the depth of this love writing, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16, ESV)

The “law of Christ,” is the “law of love.” It is now defined in a very deep way for it has been demonstrated by Jesus in His sacrificial and voluntary death on the cross. What makes this a new command? It is in the way it was manifested by Jesus. Jesus demonstrated the power of God in doing something unnatural for the fleshly man. This type of love is manifested by the power of God’s Spirit working in the believer. This love is characterized by sacrificial and voluntary action for the betterment of others, bringing them into purposes of God. It means that believers must sacrifice of their own desires for a more glorious goal in their interactions with others. It is not easy, but it is possible as the love of Jesus exists within every believer by His indwelling Spirit.

So, what are these burdens that the believer is to bear? Well, in the context of the previous verse, it can include lifting up and restoring one who has fallen in some sort of transgression. It is not always comfortable to do so, but it is essential.

Yet the burdens can include anything that might weigh one down under a load. It could be a physical, or material issue, such as not having sufficient resources to live, or to care for themselves.

Often physical issues can lead to emotional and psychological burdens. The inability for one to adequately care for themselves could lead to a feeling of abandonment, discouragement, depression, anxiety and a host of other things. Broken relationships, physical losses, personal failures, and etcetera can also lead to these types of emotional struggles.

So, how are we to “bear” these burdens? The verb translated as “bear,” bastazo, has been defined as to bear, or carry, in the hands (Thayer p. 30). It implies a close personal connection with the one who is burdened. Yes, it will involve much prayer for the person, but not just a distant silent engagement that the burdened person knows nothing about. There is an aspect of encouragement that the burdened person needs to experience. They need to know that someone is there in heart with them. What they need to know is that someone cares and is there as a friend for them. Often it is to send a card, make a visit, or call just to let them know you care and are praying.

If there are physical needs, such as food, financial assistance, a drive to a medical appointment, things like these are always appreciated. However, the main thing that someone needs to sense with these is the understanding that you care.

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