Share Each Other's Burdens

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

Last week I wrote the posting ‘Do You Want To Be A Follower?' based on the scripture verse in Matthew 16:24. A comment came in from one of my blogging friends that ministered deep inside of me. He said, “The cross is heavy and I want to lay it down... being selfless is very difficult although I do my best. Thank you Lisa, for helping me carry it.”

I did not realize that I was helping my brother carry his cross, but I praised God immediately and gave Him glory for allowing me to edify and encourage my brother and anyone else who receives from Consecrated to Him. Then immediately the Spirit of the Lord reminded me that Jesus did not carry His cross alone, He had help too. Remember Simon from Cyrene? As Jesus was being led to be crucified they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. That immediately encouraged me because I realized that our heavenly Father knows our needs and in His mercy and grace he puts people in our path when we are at our weakest point or in desperate need of relief to help us carry our cross. Praise God! He never leaves us alone without help. (Matthew 27:32)

The Spirit of the Lord has directed each of us to share each other’s burdens and in doing this we will be obeying the law of Christ. The law of Christ is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, our entire mind, and all our strength. Also, that we love our neighbor as our self. (Mark 12:29-31)

Sharing each other’s burdens is a selfless act of love and it shows that our faith is real. Carrying each other’s burdens is practically helping your brother and sister in their Christian walk and also caring for their needs. Here are some practical applications to help others carry their cross.

• Pray and intercede for them – We all need prayer and it is an encouragement to us when we know that others are going before the throne of God on our behalf. We can pray with our brothers and sisters, touching an agreeing on one accord. Then we should also go into to our prayer closets and lift them up to the Lord, thanking our Father for His faithfulness and provisions in their life, and asking Him how we can serve them in their time of need.

• Give of your time – I don’t know about you but my schedule is always full between my 5 children, ministry work, and caring for my home. However, we need to be good stewards of our time and ask the Lord to help give us wisdom and balance in this area. We have to willing to make sacrifices and lay down some of our leisure time to minister to the needs of others. Maybe it’s as elderly, sick, or handicapped person who needs help cleaning their house or just needs company. Perhaps it’s a single mother or married couple that need a break, offer to babysit. Maybe it’s volunteering in the children’s nursery at church for a season. Take time to listen to others. Sometimes when they respond “Everything’s good” it really isn’t. Take the time to care. Be sensitive to the Spirit in this area.

• Give of your resources – Resources is just your money, its you’re your stuff too. Take a look around your home. What is there too much of? Clothes, shoes, handbags, blankets, or sheets? Whatever it is share it with others. It’s ok to sell your stuff if you’re in need, but it’s even better when you just give it away. We have 5 children in our home and every time we have gotten pregnant we have always handed down all of our baby stuff between pregnancies to others who needed it more that our storage closest did. When the time came for the next child the Lord faithfully provided everything we needed and more. Whoever tries to hold what they have what little bit they have will be taken away. Whoever gives even more will be given back to them.

• Laugh or cry together – There is a time to laugh and time to cry. Be there for your brother or sister in either season. We all need someone to share these intimate moments with.

• Encourage one another – Lift up your brother and sisters with words of encourage. Be positive and speak words of life and power that will help them press forward in their walk. Let them know that they can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens them. Also let them know you are there to help them too. We need to know that we are not alone in our suffering or troubles.

• Edify one another – Speak the Word to one another. Sings praises together. Share your revelations and visions. Tell them what the Lord is doing in your life personally. Testify to them about God’s faithfulness in your life and see if they are not edified.

• Correct, warn, and exhort – Many people have allowed the world to put it in their minds that what others are going through is none of our business. This is a lie from the pits of hell. If you see your brother or sister going down a destructive path or about to make a bad decision you should speak up in love and warn them. Give constructive criticism and godly counsel. Help your brother or sister to stay on the narrow road that leads to life. We should be our brother’s and sister’s keeper.

Let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. (1 John 3:16-19)

May the Lord help us to think of others as better than ourselves. May we learn to truly love our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Let us be full of a desire and passion to serve them and to help them carry their cross especially when times get tough. We are all part of the same body and we need one another. Father unite us together just as You and Jesus are united with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name…Amen.