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Galatians 6:2 - Sharing Our Burdens.

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) Bear one another's 
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  

Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Carry each other's 
burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of 
Christ.  

Galatians 6:2 (NLT) Share each others 
burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  

Galatians 6:2 (AMP) Bear (endure, carry) one 
another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in 
this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of 
Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking 
[in your obedience to it].  

Galatians 6:2 (MSG) Stoop down and reach out 
to those who are oppressed. Share their 
burdens, and so complete Christ's law.  

INTRODUCTION

Need for Caution Yet Courage
   According to today's reading in 
Galatians, we please God in our relationships when we 
are helpful and giving. Sounds easy"so do we 
often fail to do it? (1) We become focused on 
ourselves and don't want to be distracted. Life, by 
itself, is pretty overwhelming. It's okay to take 
care of ourselves; we just have to keep a good 
balance with focusing on others so that we aren't 
completely self-centered. (2) We become afraid to get 
involved with other people's problems. Certain 
boundaries are wise and necessary, but we must be 
willing to get our hands dirty. (3) We don't want to 
enable someone's problem. There's always the danger 
that the person you're helping won't appreciate 
it or will only ask for more. However, we are 
only called to give, not to govern what is done 
with the gift or judge whether it is adequately 
appreciated.  
   From wherever you are, you can take a 
small step toward how God wants you to live in 
relationship with others. Maybe it means calling your 
difficult family member when it's easier to stay away. 
Maybe it means just being there for a hurting 
friend. Whatever it is, step out of your comfort 
zone and be a blessing to others. [The One Year 
Bible for New Believers re Gal. 6:1-3] 

COMMENTARY

God Prepares Us Individually
   When God places people in your life who 
are in need, He is aware of what they lack, and 
He knows He has given you the resources to meet 
those needs. You know God does nothing by 
accident. When a need surfaces around you, immediately 
go to the Father and say, You put me here 
for a reason. You knew this was going to happen. 
What did You intend to do through me that would 
help this person become closer to You?  
   Recognizing a need in someones life 
can be one of the greatest invitations from God 
you will ever experience. Its easy to become 
frustrated by the problems of others. They can 
overwhelm you as you become aware of need after need. 
Rather than looking at each new problem as one more 
drain on your time, energy, or finances, ask God 
why He placed you in this situation. Allow God 
to help you see beyond the obvious needs of 
others to the things He wants to accomplish in 
their lives. Dont miss Gods activity because 
youre reluctant to carry the load of others.  
   Is God blessing you materially? It may be 
He is developing a supply depot in your 
life through which He can provide for others. Has 
God granted you a strong, healthy family life? 
It may be that He requires such a home to 
minister to the hurting families all around you. Has 
God released you from sinful habits? Has Gods 
peace comforted you in a time of great sorrow? Has 
God miraculously provided for your needs? It may 
be that He has been purposefully building 
things into your life so that you can now be the 
kind of person who will carry the burdens of 
others. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and 
Richard Blackaby re Gal. 6:2] 

God Works Toward Unity
   God has designed His kingdom so that 
Christians with kindred spirits join together. It is 
exciting when you find another Christian who shares 
the same concerns and burdens that you do! 
Often, God will graciously bring another believer 
alongside you who will undergird you in the work and 
concerns God has placed on your heart. 
   God releases a powerful dimension of His 
presence to His children when they unite in heart and 
mind regarding His kingdom. The Bible says that 
when two or more Christians meet and reverently 
discuss matters concerning the Lord, God is pleased 
to listen to them and to respond to their 
concerns. When two or three believers agree in prayer, 
God chooses to respond to their unity by making 
His powerful presence known in their midst (Mt 
18:19"20). When two people walked together and 
discussed the confusing events of Christs 
crucifixion, Jesus joined them and helped them understand 
the events of their day (Lu 24:13"32). 
   If you are carrying concerns about your 
family or your church or your friends, ask God to 
bring like-minded believers around you to share 
the burden with you in conversation and in 
prayer. Dont attempt to bear your load of cares 
on your own. You may pray about them, but you 
will miss the blessing of uniting together with a 
group of believers who join together to intercede 
for one another and to enjoy Gods presence. 
Everything God has woven into the fabric of His kingdom 
promotes interdependence, not individualism. As you 
face your concerns, deliberately seek out other 
believers with whom you can stand and share your load. 
[Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby 
re Mal. 3:16] 

Why We Need to Share Our Burdens
   Feelings are neither good nor bad - 
theyre just emotions but they need to be expressed 
appropriately to God and to a trusted friend. The Bible 
says, Carry each other's burdens, and in this 
way you will fulfill the law of Christ 
(Galatians 6:2 NIV). 
   You don't have to share your feelings 
with everybody, but you do need to have one 
person you can confide in. Someone you can go to 
and say, "Hey, can I just tell you how I'm 
really feeling right now?" This is someone who will 
listen, share in your pain and frustration, and then 
help you move forward. 
   Paul gives a great example of sharing 
feelings instead of stuffing them in: My friends, 
I want you to know what a hard time we had in 
Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so 
unbearable that death seemed certain (2 Corinthians 
1:8 CEV). 
   If Paul, the greatest Christian who ever 
lived next to Jesus Christ himself, could be 
gut-level honest about what he was going through, then 
we can do it, too. 
   Sharing your problems includes sharing 
your frustrations, fears, and feelings. We are 
living in unprecedented times, and everyone is 
feeling the stress of the pandemic. Weve also all 
experienced losses and missed opportunities due to the 
upheaval in the world. You may have missed a 
graduation, the funeral of a loved one, a wedding, or 
the birth of a grandchild. 
   You need to grieve those losses - and not 
just in private. Grief is a good, healthy thing. 
Its how we transition. Sharing your grief with 
others keeps you from isolation and loneliness and 
will remind you of Gods provision. 
   God created us to need each other! He 
designed us to share our feelings with others. But he 
also wants us to share our feelings with him: 
The LORD is there to rescue all who are 
discouraged and have given up hope. The LORD's people 
may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them 
safely through (Psalm 34:18-19 CEV). 
   Sharing your feelings with others may not 
come naturally to you. But it is the only way to 
be emotionally healthy. Find that person you 
trust to help you process what youre 
experiencing, and then be that friend to someone else. 
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

A Place to Unload
   This thing called life is an awfully long 
journey. For some, it seems an endless trip, filled 
with thankless responsibilities and relentless 
tasks, disappointments and deadlines, and daily 
demands. 
   Being imperfect doesn't help. Every so 
often we make stupid decisions. We say things we 
wish we could retrieve. Selfishly, we look out 
for number one and later regret it. We act 
impulsively and realize, after the fact, how foolish we 
were, how dumb we looked. On top of all that, we 
hurt the ones we love the most. All this stuff 
caves in on us at certain times, and we wonder how 
anybody could ever love us  especially God. 
   When we start thinking like this, we need 
to turn our mind to the "one anothers" in the 
New Testament. Here's just a sampling: Love one 
another, build up one another, live in peace with one 
another, confess your sins to one another, speak to 
one another, admonish one another, comfort one 
another, pray for one another. 
   I deliberately saved my favorite for 
last: "Bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2). 
   Imagine two mountain hikers trudging 
along, each carrying a backpack. The one on the 
left has a tiny, light pack that a kid could 
carry, while the poor soul on the right is so 
loaded down we can't even see his head or his 
body. 
   Let's imagine what he might be lugging in 
that pack down that long road. It could be a 
long-standing grudge that's poisoning his insides. It 
might be a broken relationship with his wife or 
one of his kids. That pack could be loaded with 
unpaid bills, all of them overdue. 
   The question is, Where can that fella on 
the right go to unload so the fella on the left 
can help "bear the burden"? By sitting in church 
alongside a few hundred or a couple thousand other 
folks? Hardly. What he needs most is to be involved 
in an adult fellowship in a small-group 
setting, a place where there is person-to-person 
caring and the opportunity for authentic sharing. 
Where he will feel free, without embarrassment or 
shame, to tell his secret or state his struggle; 
where someone will listen, help him unload, and 
give him fresh strength. 
   Adult fellowships and small groups are 
not miniature church services. They are pockets 
of people who love Christ and believe in 
helping one another. They don't point fingers or 
preach or compare. They are your brothers and 
sisters in Christ. 
   Once you begin unloading that pack, 
you'll discover how much easier the journey seems. 
   Are you involved in a small fellowship 
group? If not, consider joining or starting a group 
- especially if your load is too heavy. [Chuck 
Swindoll www.insight.org.] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Practical Ways to Bear Burdens
   There are hurting people everywhere, but 
at times we just don't know what to say or do 
to ease their pain. Here are six practical ways 
to bear someone else's burden. 
   1.	Be there. At times the best "method" 
of helping is simply to be present. During our 
darkest hours, we don't need someone who tries in 
vain to fix everything; we just need a friend. 
   2.	Listen. Don't attempt to give answers 
or tell people what to do next. Injured souls 
frequently want simply a listening ear so they can 
express what's on their mind. 
   3.	Share. Never parade yourself as 
someone who has all the answers. Instead, allow your 
own pain and failures to help others. 
   4.	Pray. There is power in speaking 
people's names before the Lord. When they hear 
someone talk to Jesus on their behalf, healing often 
starts taking place. 
   5.	Give. Sometimes helping others 
involves more than a handshake or warm hug. Maybe 
they need something financial or material. One of 
the best measures of sincerity is how much we're 
willing to give to others. 
   6.	Substitute. You may know an individual 
who bears the burden of caring for someone else. 
If you step in and take his or her place for a 
while, you are emulating your Savior--He, too, was 
a substitute. 
   Because we were unable to do it 
ourselves, Jesus bore all of our sin and sorrow, even 
unto death. As a result, we can live happily and 
eternally in communion with our Father. If Christ did 
that for us, how can we ever say, "I'm too busy 
to bear someone else's burden"? [In Touch Daily 
Devotional by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org] re 1 
Thessalonians 5:14 

ILLUSTRATIONS

Letting Burdens Draw You Closer to Others
   Suffering changes you. It can turn you 
away from self-centeredness and toward caring 
more about other people in pain. 
   One important way you can use your pain 
for good is to draw closer to others. If you're 
honest about the things that are causing you pain, 
then it will deepen your love and mature your 
relationships and sense of community. If you allow 
yourself to be vulnerable, then it will help you 
build authentic relationships. 
   There's a sad statistic that about a 
third of marriages end up in divorce after the 
loss of a child. People all grieve differently, 
and it can drive a couple apart. 
   When our son died, my wife Kay and I 
decided we were going to use our pain to grow closer 
together rather than let it drive us apart. We 
didnt try to talk each other out of our pain. When 
Kay was going through a wave of grief, I would 
simply walk over and put my arm around her or just 
stand by her and be quiet. There were no words to 
say. 
   The deeper the pain, the fewer words you 
use. 
   Our small group came over after Matthew 
died. They said, "We're spending the night at your 
house. We're not going to leave you here alone. 
We're going to be with you." They didn't try to 
give us any words of wisdom. They just gave us 
the ministry of presence. They slept on our 
couches and on the floor. I'll never forget how it 
held us up. 
   The Bible says, "Share each others 
burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ" 
(Galatians 6:2 NLT). 
   You don't have to try to cheer people up 
when they're grieving. Instead, try to enter into 
their grief and feel it with them. Sharing in 
someones pain leads to building fellowship, becoming 
closer to other people, and strengthening 
relationships. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

What God Can Do
   I led a friend of mine to Jesus and then 
became his sponsor for more than ten years. I was 
heartbroken when he went back to his old lifestyle. He 
lost everything - his leadership position, 
relationships, business, possessions, everything. I hadn't 
heard from him in a year, and I was concerned that 
he might not make it back. Yesterday I told my 
wife I wished my friend would call and let me 
know if he's okay.  
   That very morning, I received this phone 
message: Just wanted to call to tell you how sorry 
I am and ask for your forgiveness. Some phone 
numbers can never be forgotten and yours will always 
be close to my heart. My wife and I are 
rebuilding our marriage, and I am going to a Celebrate 
Recovery group and just listening."  
   God is so good, isn't he? Of course, I 
let my friend know right away that I would love 
to hear from him, and as for the forgiveness - 
it's done!  
   My sponsor told me years ago to never 
give up on anyone as long as they are still 
breathing. What wise advice! We never know what God is 
going to do in someone's life. The situation might 
seem altogether hopeless, but our God is a God of 
miracles, a God of restoration, a God of new 
beginnings.  
   Thank you, Father, for restoring and 
rebuilding so many lives. Some are precious to me, but 
all are precious to you. In Jesus name, Amen. 
[Celebrate Recovery Daily Devotional by John & Johnny 
Baker] 

CLOSING COMMENTARY PEARL

   Sometimes love means shaving your head. 
At age eight, my grandson Roman faced a serious 
surgery. When he learned that a strip of his hair 
from one ear to the other would have to be 
shaved, Roman said, "Nope, it's got to be all my 
hair or none." His dad agreed and promised to 
shave his own head as well. His mom offered to 
join in, but Roman vetoed that. 
   The day before the surgery, the family 
gathered on the patio for a head-shaving party. 
Roman's three-year-old sister begged to have hers 
done but wasn't allowed to. When I look at photos 
from that day, I'm always struck by the smile on 
Roman's face. Despite his age, he understood the 
nature of the surgery. I think he was able to have 
that big smile because each time he looked at his 
dad's bald head, he knew he was not going through 
the scary time alone. His family had made their 
love for him obvious. 
   John 3:16 tells us that, for God, love 
meant giving up His one and only Son so that 
people who choose to believe in Him can have 
eternal life. First John 3:16 explains that the 
appropriate response to such great love is to imitate 
Jesus and be willing to lay down our lives for 
others. We probably won't be called to literally die 
for another person, but meditating on Jesus's 
sacrifice makes us want to help share someone else's 
burden. That might mean practical help, such as 
childcare, food prep, or chauffeuring. It might mean 
offering our presence, prayers, and a listening ear. 
Sometimes, it might even mean shaving our head. Dianne 
Neal Matthews 
   Faith Step: Think of someone you know who 
is facing a heavy burden right now. Ask Jesus 
to show you ways you can help share their load. 
[Mornings With Jesus 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

ONE LINERS

Your response to another's fall reveals your 
own walk, whether it is spiritual or not. 
[Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren 
Wiersbe re Gal.6] 

Pride will make it impossible for you to 
help the fallen, but humility will bring blessing 
to you and to them. [Chapter by Chapter Bible 
Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re Gal.6] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Galatians 6:2 - Bear One Another's Burdens.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200724-0949.html 

Galatians 6:2 - Why You Need to Share Your 
Grief with Others. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200619-0832.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE 

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.revelationnow.com/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657