Your input requested....
I'm on an interesting journey right now as I consider what it means to love others in the Body of Christ. This is probably going to influence many of my blogs in the future. I hope that's okay. Today's entry is not so much a devotional thought as a request for your input regarding the whole area of burden bearing. The featured text is Galatians 6:1-5, specifically verses 2 and 5
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
"for each one should carry his/her own load."
I absolutely LOVE how the Bible doesn't shy away from the realities of life. How often within a passage or a section of Scripture there are things that seem to contradict each other or at least raise a question of how do we interpret the saying. I find Gal. 6 does that for me. Here is the thing I'm thinking about and would love your feedback on. If a person is not carrying their own load, they (or their life circumstances) becomes a burden that then others are instructed to carry. How can this be? Isn't that a cop-out for the irresponsible person? Since they weren't willing to carry their own load, others now have to carry their burden. That doesn't seem appropriate, or is it? Maybe they need help so desperately to be able to even handle their life that the people of God coming alongside to carry their burdens allows them to get the strength, perspective, and humility to begin carrying their own load. What do you think?
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
"for each one should carry his/her own load."
I absolutely LOVE how the Bible doesn't shy away from the realities of life. How often within a passage or a section of Scripture there are things that seem to contradict each other or at least raise a question of how do we interpret the saying. I find Gal. 6 does that for me. Here is the thing I'm thinking about and would love your feedback on. If a person is not carrying their own load, they (or their life circumstances) becomes a burden that then others are instructed to carry. How can this be? Isn't that a cop-out for the irresponsible person? Since they weren't willing to carry their own load, others now have to carry their burden. That doesn't seem appropriate, or is it? Maybe they need help so desperately to be able to even handle their life that the people of God coming alongside to carry their burdens allows them to get the strength, perspective, and humility to begin carrying their own load. What do you think?
The first crazy thought that came to mind about "each one must bear their own load" was not about discerning what the other person's load was, but rather being clear about what the load is that God has asked us to bear. Sometimes, because our loads are not the ones we would choose, it is easier to be in someone else's garden getting them fixed up, instead of faithfully carrying the load (with it's responsibilities, relationships)that I have been asked to carry. The other thought I had was that the word is "load", implying that the there is weight that requires energy, as opposed to "fluffy, joyful, feel good bundle" that i have to carry.
ReplyDeleteoo, crystal
AKA "feeling the weight" hache
Thanks for the perspective Crystal. The shift of focus from the loads and burdens of others to making sure I am aware of and carrying my own load is a needed one.
ReplyDeleteTracy
When I did a little study on the text for verse 2 in Galatians 6, the word "carry" means also "bear" which explains the next phrase "and so fulfill the law of Christ" which we know is "love". The word "carry" in verse 5 has to do with examining our own hearts before the Lord and taking responsibilty for our faults and weaknesses.
ReplyDeleteThis is all so relevent... these days. I am debating about whether or not to host house church again this year - i get weary thinking about it. Yet..someone asked me today to answer the question - what do I need to do to get closer to God and stay connected. I've got this "death by service" issue - what I mean is that I get into doing the right thing and ending up a joyless, dried up, tired person because it sucks the life out of me...with nothing left for Hannah (who still is a crappy sleeper) . Can't seemto find the balance. This new church is not my load...it is too big. But if I ask the question, as mentioned above, what do I need to do to get closer to Jesus and God, then it shifts things. I would love your prayers... Crystal
ReplyDeleteWill be praying, Crystal.
ReplyDeleteElvira
I'll be praying for you too, Crystal.
ReplyDeleteInevitably, these verses remind me of my own experience in my previous marriage. My then-husband had a huge burden to carry (addiction, mental illness) and, as his wife, I determined to support him in his efforts to carry this load. When that didn't work, I tried to carry it on his behalf. Not only was this futile, it caused me a lot of confusion and ultimately led to my own exhaustion - at which point, I became dependent on others to help me carry my own load. As with so many things we encounter in the Christian walk, this idea of carrying our own loads while carrying the loads of others isn't black and white, but here's what I learned from my own experience: I always benefit from the on-going prayers and, at times, practical support from others - but, ultimately, there are decisions only I can make and actions only I can take. If I relinquish that responsibility, I stay stuck while placing a burden on others that doesn't belong to them.
These days, I'm also seeing this dichotomy play out with regard to the healthcare debate here in the US. Among Christians there are opposing points of view - people should carry their own burdens (i.e. pay for their own health insurance/healthcare) vs. people should share each others' burdens (i.e. contribute to some kind of public option or co-op fund). So far, I haven't seen a lot of common ground between these two poles! Interesting ... and disturbing.
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ReplyDeleteWow Lianne, That makes so much sense.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you all have noticed but I draw a lot on social work. These principle's that you are talking about Lianne are exactly what we are taught in school. 2 of the most important things that we learn in social work are, - to meet a client where they are at (if we start a process ahead of or behind them, they will not be able to identify with it and we all spin our wheels). The other principle that I have a hard time with is about change (how many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? It doesn't matter, the lightbulb has to want to change itself). Working on a crisis line the hardest part of the job is to hang up the phone and trust that the caller will follow though with the plan that you have developed together. I guess that is where the part of letting others carry their own load comes in. My personal disposition is a lot more like Lianne’s though, where I want to help and support people – to the point where I exhaust myself from carrying others and consequently have a hard time carrying my own burdens.
This also brings me back to what I am working on personally. The water is often unclear once I start putting more energy into other people than I put into myself. I have a hard time differentiating what is actually “my load” and what is someone else’s.
I miss you guys! It’s not often I think about stuff like this . . . thanks for keeping up with the online group!