Galatians 6:2 Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. I. ENUMERATE SOME OF THE BURDENS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 1. The greatest of all burdens which the Christian feels is sin. It is this which makes the whole creation groan, and causes an apostle to cry out, "Oh wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24). David also complains and says, "Mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me" (Psalm 38:4). 2. Bodily infirmities and diseases are in themselves a burden, however providence may intend them for our good, and finally overrule them for our spiritual advantage. 3. Worldly losses, trials and difficulties, are the burden which some are called to bear, and of these there is a heavy load. The unkindness and ingratitude, the malice and opposition of enemies, press heavily on some: the undutifulness of children, and the breaches made by death, on others: and an endless train of disappointed hopes and expectations attend on all. 4. A state of distance from God, and the hidings of His face, are a great grief and burden to the believing soul. "Thou hidest Thy face," says David, "and I am troubled." II. OUR OBLIGATIONS TO SYMPATHISE WITH ONE ANOTHER, UNDER THE VARIOUS ILLS AND EVILS OF THE PRESENT LIFE. We cannot so "bear each other's burdens" as to transfer them to ourselves, or suffer in another's stead. In this sense Christ bore our griefs, and carried our sorrows, and at length bore our sins in His own body on the tree; and He alone was able to do it. 1. Let us bear one another's burdens by tenderly sympathising with those who are afflicted. Let us make their griefs, as well as their joys, our own. 2. We are to bear one another's burdens by endeavouring to alleviate the afflicted, and comforting them under all their sorrows. 3. The motive by which this duty is enforced is, that in so doing we "fulfil the law of Christ." It is according to the new commandment which He has given us, that we should love one another; and according to the old commandment that we should love God, and our neighbour as ourselves. (B. Beddome, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.WEB: Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. |
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