Read Galatians 6:1–10
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the
law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
The story has often been told about the message the founder of
the Salvation Army sent to their international convention. General
William Booth was unable to attend because of ill health, so he cabled
the delegates a message containing one word: “OTHERS!”
In the popular comic strip Peanuts, Lucy asks Charlie Brown,
“Why are we here on earth?” He replies, “To make others happy.” She
ponders this for a moment and then asks, “Then why are the others
here?”
“One another” is one of the key phrases in the Christian’s vocabulary. “Love one another” is found at least a dozen times in the New
Testament, along with “pray for each other” (James 5:16), “build
each other up” (1 Thess. 5:11), “honor one another” (Rom. 12:10),
“offer hospitality to one another” (1 Peter 4:9), and many other like
admonitions. In this passage, Paul adds another phrase: “Bear ye one
another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2 KJV). The Spirit-led Christian thinks of
others and how he can minister to them.
Something to Ponder
What are some ways you bear others’ burdens? How can you better
minister to people in need?