Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ
Reflection
In last Friday’s “This Week at Medford UMC” e-mail, Pastor Joe wrote this, “Simon of Cyrene reminds us of something deeply true about faith and about life: God meets us through the people who step in to help carry what feels too heavy for us to bear alone.”
In our Tuesday evening Lenten Zoom meeting we talked about things which go wrong in life and how “I didn’t sign up for this” can be a reaction to life handing us moments, and long periods, which are just plain difficult.
I liked the author who wrote the book we are studying saying: “we crave ease and comfort, yet in doing so, we often sacrifice depth and authenticity in our lives.” Ironically, history and faith traditions tell us that suffering is often the very experience that refines us.
My Tony Evans study bible said this about Galatians 6:2: “Burdens don’t necessarily imply sin. The burdens of life can include all sorts of weighty problems: physical, relational, financial, and emotional. Believers are to serve one another like spotters serving those who are lifting weights. When the strain of a burden becomes more than an individual can bear, a spotter helps lift the weight off of his chest. Carrying the burden of another can take an unlimited number of forms, including prayer, making time for a person, providing practical assistance, giving financial assistance, and providing a listening ear. Such burden bearing will fulfill the law of Christ, the law of love (see 5:13-14; see John 13:34).”
I enjoy hearing Adam Hamilton’s blogs on occasion and have read a number of his books.
Searching for what Adam Hamilton might say about Galatians 6:2 brought some interesting guidance:
Based on Adam Hamilton’s writings and sermons, particularly in “When Christians Get It Wrong” and associated messages, he interprets Galatians 6:2 –
“Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” as a mandate for community and emotional support, rather than trying to manage life alone.
Key Aspects of Adam Hamilton’s Interpretation:
- Life Isn’t Meant to Be Climbed Alone: Hamilton emphasizes that we were made to lift each other up, as opposed to the worldly focus on self-reliance.
- Not Everything is God’s Will: In “When Christians Get It Wrong”, Hamilton argues against the “half-truth” that “everything happens for a reason” or that God causes all bad effects. Instead, he highlights Galatians 6:2 as a call to carry the weight of burdens (such as illness or tragedy) that are often just “the way life works” or results of our choices, rather than God’s direct act.
- Active Compassion: He teaches that bearing burdens means actively helping, praying for, and comforting those around us, rather than watching them suffer in isolation.
- Fulfilling the Law of Christ: He defines this as taking the opportunity to love others as Christ loved us, serving as a support system to those experiencing intense pressure.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
Do you feel like you are walking the road of life somewhat alone? How might you engage with people in a way that would allow you to be a part of others’ lives?
Prayer: God of compassion, in our suffering and in our pain, you are always nearby. Thank you for the gift of one another, for seemingly unlikely connections with others which bring the presence of your love. May even the simplest human connections remind us of your grace and the presence of your Spirit. Amen.
