Bear Ye One Another's Burdens

In Paul’s epistle to the Galatians, he invited them saying, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).  He seems to have meant here that to bear one another’s burdens is the essence of the law of Christ.  To follow Christ means that we will love and help those around us, or as the Lord put it in our day, “Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:19).  The Savior equated the law with this kind of love for one’s neighbor when He said during His mortal ministry: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12).  Here he was referring to the law of Moses, but even then the essence of that law, Jesus suggested, was to serve and love others.  This was what Alma taught the people at the waters of Mormon, who were also under the law of Moses, when they were preparing for baptism: “Ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8-9).  Just as Paul taught the Galatians, being willing to bear each other’s burdens was key to their preparation to be baptized and make a covenant with Christ.   

             And yet, given this focus on bearing one another’s burdens in the gospel, Paul’s statement a couple verses later in Galatians is at first surprising: “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden” (Galatians 6:4-5).  So first Paul said we need to bear one another’s burdens, and then he said directly afterwards that we need to each bear our own burden. So what did he mean by that?  Perhaps he was warning against a feeling of entitlement among Saints who, knowing that others are asked to help bear their burdens, might try to shirk their own responsibilities.  While others may help bear our burdens, we should be the first to put our shoulders under our own problems.  Perhaps this same idea is what Paul was trying to convey to Timothy when he said, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).  While we as followers of Christ should expect to help to lift people out of their problems, we as individuals should have no sense of entitlement that someone else is going to solve our problems—we must seek with all our hearts to provide for our own.  Elder Holland was careful to make this point in his talk on helping the needy.  After imploring us to do more to help those in need, to “do what we can” to come to the aid of the poor and naked and sick and afflicted, he said this: “Now, lest I be accused of proposing quixotic global social programs or of endorsing panhandling as a growth industry, I reassure you that my reverence for principles of industry, thrift, self-reliance, and ambition is as strong as that of any man or woman alive. We are always expected to help ourselves before we seek help from others.”  As we consider the challenges of others we should look generously upon those in need around us and do all that we can to ease their burdens.  But must first and foremost look upon our own need and squarely face the burdens that the Lord has given to us, knowing that He and other will help us.