SOUNDING OUT:
Burden-Bearers

  There is a command in Galatians 6:2, to “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Certainly we want to help our brothers and sisters, so we resolve to do so. However, as we continue reading we get to verse five and read that, “every man shall bear his own burden.” This can be perplexing. If every man must bear his own burden, when and how should we obey the command of Christ to “bear ye one another’s burdens?”

  An understanding of the Greek words translated into our English word “burden” quickly resolves the apparent discrepancy. There are two different Greek words translated “burden,” baros in Galatians 6:2 and phortion in 6:5, which were used outside of the Bible in military and mercantile contexts.

  Every believer must in fact carry his own load, phortion. This, however, does not contradict verse two because the reference there is to heavy, crushing loads, baros, more than any man could carry by himself. Phortion is used of the pack usually carried by marching soldiers while baros is used of heavy armaments pulled by horses or carried in wagons. Although the packs could be heavy and burdensome at times they were designed for one person to handle them. There are certain Christian responsibilities each believer must bear which cannot be shared with others. Each one of us is responsible to believe unto salvation and operate manifestations; these are loads no one can bear for us.

  Baros was also used of the cargo of an overloaded ship, while phortion was used of the normal load a ship was designed to carry. Sailing ships are designed to carry cargo, and they need a proper cargo weight to sail efficiently. Without the weight of the cargo, it cannot set full sail and make full speed. An empty ship tosses and pitches violently in rough seas. However, if it was loaded too heavily, (with a baros) it is in danger of taking on water and sinking. When it is loaded with the proper cargo weight, the weight it was designed to carry (phortion), it sails fast and smooth.

  When the cargo of sailing ships was below the proper cargo weight, they would make up the difference with “ballast” stones. Although the stones had no trade value, the purpose of these stones was to make the voyage smoother and more efficient. With the proper weight the ships sailed as they were designed, to peak efficiency. Although the stones were tossed overboard when they reached port and took on a full load, they provided necessary stability in the interim.

  What do these words tell us of our burdens? We need a proper load (phortion) to sail through life smoothly, and so, we are to bear our own burdens, or proper loads, as Galatians 6:5 prescribes. There are responsibilities that everyone must bear. These come by divine-design, and if they are shirked our journey through life will not be smooth or fulfilling. Only as we first bear our personal responsibilities will we ever realize what we have been designed for. When we know what we are designed to handle we can pull along side overloaded ships (carrying baros) and help our Christian brothers and sisters with their burdens.

  Sometimes we may overload ourselves in an effort to please God by taking on more than we should. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:30 that his yoke is easy and his burden (phortion - normal load) is light! When burdens become too heavy for any one to bear alone, be thankful for our brothers and sisters who can help ease the burdens following in the steps of the burden-bearer of all time, Jesus Christ.