Burden Bearing by L. L. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 28, 1916

Burden Bearing

By L. L. C.

There are few persons indeed who have no burden to bear. Sometimes persons who seem to have no burden may be carrying burdens which would crush others. There are so many different kinds of burdens,—inherited tendencies, acquired habits, pain or sorrow, disagreeable work, heavy responsibility.

But perhaps your burden is something not included in what has been here mentioned. You know; and God knows. No one else may seem to care.

Another’s Burden

But will the true Christian show no concern or interest in the burdens of his fellows? We are exhorted in Gal. 6:2,—

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Many men all about us are finding their burdens too heavy. Some are falling under the load. In some cases there is a loss of physical health; in others (and this is far more serious) there is a moral breakdown. Before this fall, there is many a stumble. This is what the apostle has in mind when he says:—

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1.

If we see a man stumble, it is not right that we should say, “It is no affair of ours;” for only as we help our brother do we “fulfil the law of Christ.” While the exhortation is that those who are spiritual should restore such a one, should not every Christian be spiritual? Even the spiritual Christian must guard the spirit in which the help is offered. It must be done in a spirit of meekness, considering one’s own liability to stumble—often on the very same point. It is a fact repeatedly proved in human experience that we notice most quickly in others those very faults into which we ourselves are most prone to fall.

Our Own Burden

There is still another side to the question of burdens; for we are told, “Every man shall bear his own burden.” On every hand we see those who are refusing to do this. Through sloth and indolence some refuse to do their part of life’s labor; others seem to think that they have some special endowment which makes it right for them to direct and advise while others do the work. It is of this latter class that the apostle speaks in the following words:—

“If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” Gal. 6:3.

On the other hand, we should not underestimate ourselves. While avoiding the error of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, we should not fail to think soberly of the ability which God has given us. One who depends for his own estimate of himself and his work entirely on what others may say, is surely to be pitied. The method suggested by the apostle is much better:—

“Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Gal. 6:4.

In God’s plan each man has been given his own work to do. This is a burden which we should ask no one to bear for us, lest perchance the reward also be given him by that great Judge who says, “Well done,” to him whose work has been well done. L. L. C.