“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.” – Galatians 6:1-5
Lots of good advice here about how we Christians can and should get along with each other. We’re to walk in love and quit comparing ourselves to other believers. The Christian life is a Spirit-filled life, but He won’t lead us to judge another follower of Jesus. Yet don’t be surprised if He compels us to rescue a brother or sister who’s failed God.
When that happens, we should be grateful for the privilege of restoring a fellow Christian. It’s too easy, especially in this toxic social media culture, to accuse and criticize. But Jesus wants us to mend souls, even those wounded by their own poor decisions. Rather than wagging our fingers and pointing out flaws, we are to reach out and repair damaged people. This is more than a nice thought; it’s Christ’s law for His church!
As encouraging as this passage is, it looks like the apostle Paul got something mixed up. Both verses 2 and 5 refer to bearing burdens, but one contradicts the other.
The former verse reminds us to help out others while the latter suggests that everyone’s on their own. So what are we supposed to do? Carry the burdens of others or refuse? Help out or look on?
The verb “to carry” is the same in each verse, but the object carried differs. In verse 2, it’s baros and refers to a heavy weight, something cumbersome and difficult to manage. But in verse 5, the word is phortion, and in context is best translated as “responsibility.”
There’s only so much we can do to serve people. We can relieve them of the burdens crushing them, but we can’t deliver them from their duties to God.
Ministry has boundaries and we do well to respect what the Lord has instituted. The consequences are real, but we can help people learn from their mistakes and grow in Christ.
God’s wisdom teaches us to discern healthy boundaries. Learning how to operate with love and grace within those parameters, we know when to intervene and when to back off.
God’s Spirit will show us how.
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