Bearing Burdens
Burden bearing. As someone who operates
in the prophetic, this phrase brings a flood of memories of sudden shifts in
emotions or thought patterns, ones that definitely weren’t mine—or God’s. As a
mother of prophetic kids, it brings up even more recent memories of learning
how to walk my daughters through those moments as they burden bear, oftentimes
completely unaware since their skills in discerning are still developing.
The Bible talks about bearing one
another’s burdens in Galatians 6:2, but it isn’t talking about the prophetic.
It’s talking about that gift of time and kindness that anyone can give to
someone. It’s talking about giving someone a listening ear or a shoulder to cry
on. It’s talking about praying together through life issues and giving some
practical helps, as it is possible and as the Lord leads.
For all the variety of experiences that
can fall under the type of burden Paul is talking about in Galatians 6:2, it’s
NOT talking about ALL burdens. Let me explain.
In Galatians 6:2 Paul writes about
burdens, and then again in Galatians 6:5. But here’s the thing—they’re NOT THE
SAME WORD. The word translated as “burden” in Galatians 6:5 is a TOTALLY
different word. THAT word is the same one Jesus uses in Matthew 11 when He
talks about casting burdens onto Him.
What’s the difference? Let’s begin with
the FIRST word translated as “burden” in Galatians 6. This word translated is
more along the lines of life’s troubles. Think pain, grief, and other troubles
from life. This word was grafted into German and then English as the word baron, which was the lowest level of
property-owning nobility back in “those days.” In other words, the burdens we
are to bear for one another are those that are wholly “owned” by an individual
and stem from life circumstances. They’re not light. Not easy either. But
they’re bearable and shareable. They are also NOT the same as the other word.
The OTHER word is far greater, heavier,
and less transient. If I were to compare them, the first word in Galatians
would be along the lines of a heavy box I can lift with a friend. The other
word? A freight train. Not lifting that with a friend. No way. It’s impossible,
both of us would be severely hurt and damaged. There’s only One Who can handle
THAT kind of burden—Jesus.
So, what constitutes THIS burden, a
burden I cannot expect my best girl friend or husband to share with me? One
that requires me to set a boundary with those I love the most?
As I dug into this word, themes popped
up. I saw within the lengthy (but excellent!) explanation concepts like willful action, enduring, carrying through, trade, yielding profit or fruit, holding command or office.
Interesting…
What did Jesus do for us? He took our
sin (willful action) and exchanged it for righteousness (trade, carrying
through). He never gives up on (enduring) seeing His work (holding command or
office) to completion in our lives (yielding fruit or profit). It’s the Gospel!
In other words, I can certainly bear my friend or loved one’s burden when “life
happens.” As a prophet, God can even open up opportunities to “burden bear” for
the purpose of ministry and intercession (more on that in the next post). But
it is NOT my responsibility to save someone or to cause them to change (i.e.,
repent), or mature (i.e., live in a more godly way). It’s just not. I can walk
my own walk with the Lord, I can share what He has given me, I can certainly
pray and offer words as appropriate, but ultimately, I am not responsible for
their souls. He is. And each one of us responsible for our own souls together
with the Lord. I cannot force or empower someone else to cast their soul and
spirit burdens to the Lord, I can only cast my own. Again, I can encourage and
go before the Lord in intercession and be an example (through God’s grace!),
but I cannot do it for them. It’s an individual choice that’s fulfilled and
powered through Christ.
So, for example. Let’s say Millie has an
anger issue. She loses her temper frequently and says and does things that are
damaging to those around her. She’s sullen and sour and often found grumbling and
complaining. Her roommate Jessi can’t force Millie to change. Jessi may have to
put up appropriate boundaries, but she cannot change Millie’s heart or actions.*
Jessi can pray for Millie and, as appropriate, share Scriptures or advice.
Jessi can also make positive choices in her own attitudes and choose grace,
patience, gratitude, and kindness to be a living example. But these things may
or may not actually impact Millie. If Millie expects Jessi to take
responsibility for Millie’s actions and tells Jessi that it’s Jessi’s fault
that Millie behaves badly, this simply isn’t true. This would be Millie
expecting Jessi to bear a burden only Jesus can. Sure, we are all only human
and there are interpersonal dynamics that can push our buttons, but ultimately,
Millie’s behavior is Millie’s issue and Millie’s choices, and heart issues such
as these are meant to be carried by Jesus. Only He can take our sin and wounds
and exchange them for something of value that can yield a fruitful harvest in
our lives.
So, yes, let’s bear one another’s
burdens! Let’s help one another through life when “life happens.” Let’s pray
together, listen to one another, and give practical helps as possible. But
let’s also seek our own hearts for those areas of hidden wounds and
thought/behavior patterns that don’t line up with God’s heart and do our
part—throw it on Him. Let it go. Release it into His grace and love, and let
Him exchange it for something AWESOME.
*For a fantastic book on this and how to
use boundaries appropriately (in love and not for manipulation), check out Dr.
Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend’s book entitled Boundaries.
“Baron.” Abarim Publications. 30 April 2023.
Retrieved from www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/b/b-a-r-o-sfin.html
“Pheron.” Abarim Publications. 30 April 2023. www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/ph/ph-e-r-om.html