Galatians 6. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)

I detest the little plastic grocery bags in widespread use across the American South. They have holes in them, tend to break as you cross the parking lot, and only hold one or two heavy items. Since I am often buying groceries for a small army, I might have twenty bags to manage, and they are likely to tip over and dump out cans that roll around in the back of my car every time I turn the corner. Plus, they are terrible for the environment, and take up space in my pantry until I remember to recycle them or throw them away.

I would pull up at the house, open the front door, and holler – “Groceries, please help Mom!” With a bit of training and prodding, my kids learned to come and help me unload the car and carry everything into the kitchen. When I think of bear one another’s burdens, this is the image that comes to mind. I could either carry all the groceries myself and be grumpy about it by the end or call for help and many hands make light work. (Also, he who will not work, does not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Just kidding, ha ha!)

Our Christian community, the kingdom of God family that we belong to, is called to support and help each other as best we can. “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Gal 6:9-10) Sometimes we do not like to ask for help, or accept help, but God did not intend for us to carry all the burdens on our own. He gave us a Christian family to help us through all the challenges.

The church community in Galatia was clearly struggling with dissention, factions, envy, rivalries, and various forms of strife (Gal 5:19-20). You would think it would be natural to help people in the community, but the truth is that we tend to grow weary of doing good. The Apostle Paul encourages us to hang in there and keep investing with goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience and joy (Gal 5:22-23) because we will eventually reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-9).

What kind of burden (the groceries) are you trying to carry? Are you willing to let others help you carry it? Have you asked for help? If you’ve got your groceries under control, then look around you. Who is struggling under their burden? How can you be supportive to them? Do not grow weary of doing good.

PS – I bring my own stronger bags to the grocery store now.

What stood out to you in Galatians 6?