Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

  - Galatians 6.2, 3

Let him be steadfast and without a shadow of weakness; let him be like an anvil in his support of every profitable thing. Let him be the servant of everyone, and let him take the responsibility of everyone’s sins upon himself.

   - The Rule of Ailbe, Irish, 7th century

Do people see you as a burden-bearer or a burden-bringer?

Do their faces brighten when they see you, or do they start looking for somewhere else to go? And as you approach them, are thinking about what you need from them? Or what you have to offer them in the way of encouragement, affirmation, or edification?

How do people see you?

How do you see yourself? Are you an anvil that others can pound on with all their sorrows, uncertainties, fears, and doubts? Or are you the anvil that drops into the calm pool of their daily lives and upsets everything?

Are you everyone’s servant, or do you expect everyone to serve you?

Who do we think we are? Do we really suppose the whole world revolves around us and our problems? Roll them onto Jesus, and cozy up in His strength. Then plead with Him for grace to care for those around you.

That’s the thing about Jesus: He exemplified the life of burden-bearing. He took upon Himself the sins of the world, the sorrows of the world, the silliness and insipidity of the world, and He bore it all with grace, hope, and joy (Heb. 12.1, 2).

We pray for God to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ – at least, I hope we do (2 Cor. 3.18). We’d better watch out, because He just might do it.

And then you’ll be a burden-bearer like Jesus. The world has enough burden-bringers already, dear friends. The Christian life is emphatically not all about what you need others to do for you. Quite the contrary.

In Jesus Christ we can find the strength to “be the servant of everyone” and to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” which is the law of love. You’re getting ready to head off into your day. Will you be a burden-bringer or a burden-bearer?

Will you lighten others’ loads in the love of Jesus? Or will you add to their burdens by making yourself just one more thing they’ve got to bear?

Psalm 143.1, 2 (Divinum Mysterium: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”)
Hear my earnest prayer, O Lord! Give ear to my pleas for grace!
In Your faithfulness and righteousness look upon me with Your face!
Enter not to judgment with Your servant, Lord, with Your holy servant, Lord:
None can stand before Your Word.

Lord, bear my burdens, and enable me to bear the burdens of others, so that they might see You in me.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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