When The Weight Is Too Much

The Beautiful Wisdom Of Love

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. For each one will bear his own load. Galatians 6:2, 5

Which Is It?

Have you ever noticed what appears to be a contradiction in these few verses?

Paul tells us to carry one another’s burdens, then only a few sentences later tells us that each person should carry their own load. I’ve read those words many times, but the Greek gives us a beautiful picture of what love looks like when it walks with wisdom.

Paul isn’t talking about the same kind of weight.

When The Weight Becomes Too Heavy

In verse 2, Paul uses baros, a word describing something heavy or burdensome.

There are seasons when grief, illness, loss, failure, or simply the weight of life becomes more than someone should have to carry alone.

Love doesn’t stand at a distance in those moments and remind someone to be stronger.

It moves closer, gets underneath the weight, and says:

“I’ll help you carry this.”

Paul calls that fulfilling the law of Christ. Love has moved from something we believe into something another person can actually experience.

The Load That Is Ours

Then in verse 5, Paul uses a different word, phortion, for the load each of us carries.

Jesus uses this same word when He says, “My burden is light.”

There are parts of my journey that belong to me—my choices, responsibilities, relationships, and the life Jesus is living with me.

Love doesn't take those away from me, because doing so may keep me from walking through something with Him that is mine to walk.

Sometimes love carries. Sometimes love walks beside.

Knowing the difference requires wisdom.

The Beauty Of One Another

I especially love that Paul says to carry one another’s burdens.

There aren’t strong people who always carry and weak people who always need carrying. There are simply beloved sons and daughters sharing life together. Today I may help carry what has become too heavy for you; tomorrow I may need your shoulder underneath something that has become too heavy for me.

This is the beauty of life together with Abba, Jesus, and Holy Spirit flowing among us.

Love helps carry what has become too heavy for another person without taking from them what is theirs to carry.

And sometimes the most loving thing we can say is simply:

“You don’t have to carry this one alone.”

Reflection

Whose burden might Love be inviting me to help carry?

Where am I carrying something that I was never meant to carry alone?

Where might love mean walking beside someone rather than carrying their load for them?

Prayer

Abba Father, give me Your heart and wisdom to know when to carry and when to walk beside. Let Your love flow freely between us. Amen.