How to Bless the Church with Your Burdens

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

• What is “the law of Christ?” It is “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34) The law of Christ is what Jesus said after He washed the disciples’ feet. “I have given you an example, that you should do with one another as I have done for you” (John 13:15). “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). This verse is an important, practical action step to following the Lord’s directive.

Main Idea: Who are the people you are allowing to share your burdens?

We have heard much about the importance of using our gifts to serve one another. But it is also important that we learn to use our neediness to serve others as well. Our neediness gives others the opportunity to use their gifts. Afterall, it is impossible to “bear one another’s burdens” if we are all keeping our burdens to ourselves.

Paul’s example – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

A few other biblical examples of shared burdens.

• Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “Brother and sisters, pray for us.” 1 Thessalonians 5:25.
• Peter imprisoned by King Herod, who intended to execute Peter – but the church was helping to bear his burden. (Acts 12:5)
• Daniel was about to go before the king in a life or death situation – he asked his friends to help bear his burden. (Daniel 2:17)
• Jesus in the garden – He asked his disciples to help bear His burden. (Mark 14:34)
• Wednesday Night Prayer call. These brothers and sisters are asking you to allow them to help bear your burden.

It’s great to ask others to pray for your father and mother, sister and brother, your aunts and uncles, your friends, and neighbors.  But what about you?  Who are the people you are allowing to share your burdens with?

• In the 2 Corinthians passage I read above, Paul said, we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. That’s personal. 
• When Jesus asked the disciples to pray with Him, He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Mark 14:34). That’s personal.

 Our burdens consist of the what and the how.  What it is and how it is impacting us.

In addition to those prayer examples, we see examples of practical sharing of burdens as well…

• The Lord comforted Paul with the coming of Titus, who had himself been comforted by the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 7:6)
• Jonathan’s armor bearer supported Jonathan on his faith quest and Jonathan strengthened David in the Lord. (1 Samuel 14:7; 1 Samuel 23:16).
• Ruth sacrificed her future to help bear Naiomi’s burden and Boaz helped to bear Ruth’s burden by making sure she was protected. (Ruth chapter 1:16-17; Ruth 2:8-9)
• In Acts, it says the church shared their possessions with whoever had need. (Acts 2:45)
• I solicit LaVerns help with my devotional pieces.

 The Lord works through His people.  As God has “been there” for people through you, He will “be there” for you through people.  Don’t underestimate His gifts to others through you and don’t overlook His gifts to you through others.

So, how do we give our neediness in a way that blesses the church instead of draining it?

First, share your burdens with others but always keep your faith in God as the provider.

• God often works through His people to meet the needs of His people, but He has the entire universe at His disposal.

Second, share your burden without an attitude of entitlement.

• There are many verses instructing us to love, but I know of none that instruct us to expect love from one another. Realize whatever anyone contributes to lighten our load is a gift, not our “due.”

Third, share with discretion.

• Some burdens are especially personal and sensitive; share those with people whom you consider trustworthy and with whom you feel safe. We all need to tell somebody but none of us needs to tell everybody.
• Some things are best to be worked through with a therapist. Deeply rooted negative attitudes.  Extreme compulsive behaviors.  Chronic emotional disorders.
• But you can still ask others to pray for the success of your therapy or to partner with you in the strategies suggested by your therapist.

Finally, share with an attitude of thanksgiving.

• God is always faithful! He is not only being faithful to us when He removes a burden; He is faithfully caring for us even while it remains. Ask Him to help you receive the grace He is providing even as you wait.
• Sharing and complaining are not the same thing. We all complain.  That’s real, but an attitude of thanksgiving seasons the sharing with hope.
• And the Scriptures says in everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Why?  Because God is always being faithful to us.