“Our Load Bearer”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).
I enjoy passing the time watching home remodeling shows. I have convinced myself that I will one day begin rebuilding houses in my hometown, but I like to gather ideas until then. One thing that comes up often during renovation is wall demolition but before a wall can be taken down, the builder must determine if it is load-bearing or a partition. A load-bearing wall is strong enough to hold, with ease, all of the weight resting on it. A partition serves only as a means of separation. Often when confronted with the prospect of removing the load-bearing wall, the designer will take a different route and create a new design rather than move the wall.
In its simplest form, load-bearing is measured in weight or pressure.
As children of God, He has created us as load bearers. But He has not just made us too handle our weight and pressure; God has empowered us with the strength to withstand the burdens and stresses of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Verse 2 of our passage for today reminds us to “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” But just like the home builder you must first determine if God has called you to be a load bearer or a partition. Watch how verse one warns us, “…if some sin overcomes another believer, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself”.
And here is where I would like to encourage someone today. Physical load-bearing is measured in weight; spiritual load-bearing is measured in faith. Your faith in God gives you the strength to stand firm with others on the truth and power that draws you closer to God but it will never prompt you to stand in sin that separates you from Him. Sin is never an option with God, and though the weight may be heavy spiritual load-bearing will bring joy and not fear, strength and not weakness, love and not shame, and surprisingly rest instead of unrest.
Jesus is the ultimate load bearer, and in Matthew 11:29-30, He beckons: 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Lean into whatever it is today your faith is prompting you to do. Through Christ, you are much stronger than you can imagine. Have a blessed and wonderful Friday.
