Burdens and Loads
Galatians 6: 2-5
The times in which we live often present us with difficulties and dilemmas which deliver unwanted thoughts and uncomfortable feelings. They weigh heavily upon us, disrupting our plans and diminishing our hopes for peaceful days. As Christians, we are told to seek relief from God through His Word and that is certainly true. Indeed, many of us can attest to the good we have received from reading and meditating upon Holy Scripture. But sometimes we may find the message difficult to understand and the Adversary would have us give up the search. May that not happen.
Some passages of Scripture seem confusing or even contradictory. Of course, this is one of the favorite arguments of those who oppose our Christian Faith anyhow.
While there may be places difficult to understand, this is generally not the case. After all, we have the treasure of the Fathers’ teaching and the guidance of the Church in hymns, prayers and services for many centuries to inform us. Furthermore, we have the promise of our Lord that the Holy Spirit will “guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).
May we consider one of those cases here and, at the same time, find some encouragement in facing the challenges of the present day.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Churches in Galatia (now eastern Turkey), he writes:
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 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 6:2-5)
Can I expect that there will always be someone there to help me with the burdens of life? Or must I be left to myself to deal with them?
You will recall that the New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. It is often helpful to refer to that original text to discover the clearer meaning. That is the case here.
The term “burdens” is from the Greek word “baros”. It denotes a weight, generally heavy, that presses on one physically. It can refer to something material, spiritual or psychological. In any sense, it is carried only with great difficulty if one can manage it at all.
With that in mind, St. Paul exhorts us to help one who is struggling under such pressures and hardships. “Bear one another’s burdens (baros)”, he says.
Then the term “load” is from the Greek word “phortion”. This speaks of something carried, without reference to weight. It is often used to describe a task or responsibility – those everyday chores that are common to us all as we function within our families, classrooms, workplaces, churches and society in general. For such, we are given the needed strength and ability as human beings created by God.
So, St. Paul’s teaching is that when we see a brother or sister under the weight of a heavy burden (baros), we extend our hands and hearts to give them help. However, we ourselves and those around us are expected to accept our own responsibilities/ tasks (phortion) cheerfully and without complaint for the glory of God and the good of others.
These are trying times. God will not place a burden/baros upon us that we cannot bear when we stand together in Christ. Likewise, He has placed each of us here in this time to let our light shine in the present darkness. So, let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
Praying that this drink from an old well might be helpful sometime,
Fr. Andrew
About The Author
