This month I had the privilege of talking with a workplace Christian fellowship about connectedness. A key piece of that talk centered around the difference between Galatians 6:5 (“carry your own load”) and Galatians 6:2 (“bear each other’s burdens”).
Paul uses two different Greek words here to make his point. Galatians 6:5 describes your load (phortion) as something small and personal. You own that responsibility—it’s assigned to you and isn’t transferrable. (Think something like a soldier’s backpack.)
In contrast, in Galatians 6:2, Paul describes “burden” (baros) as a backbreaking, crushing heaviness, a no-way-you-can-lift-this-by-yourself situation. Burdens are meant to be shared—because they’re too big to bear alone. Try to go solo carrying a baros, and it’ll crush you. A baros is any material, moral, relational, emotional, or spiritual burden that’s so weighty it could break a person if they don’t get help.
Additionally, baros connotes something of real substance that has both personal and eternal significance. Put a pin in that: baros has both personal and eternal significance.
I’ve lingered over that ever since then … and realized for the first time how beautifully baros plays out in the Christmas story:
- Joseph supported Mary, bearing the shame that their home town heaped on them when Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
- When Mary left Nazareth to escape the heat of that controversy, her cousin Elizabeth lifted Mary’s burden with her declaration that Mary was the mother of her Lord.
- The donkey bore Mary, great with child, to Bethlehem.
- The Wise Men bore the burdens of societal rejection and religious punishment to trek 1,000 miles, bearing gifts to honor the Christ child.
- Simon of Cyrene bore the Cross of Christ when He couldn’t carry it all the way to Golgotha.
- And Christ bore the sins of the world on the Cross.
Each of those examples describes a “coming alongside of” action to share a weighty burden.
But only one example shows someone carrying the full weight of a burden alone.
Christ bore all the past, present, and future sins of the world by Himself on the cross.
As Max Lucado put it, “The child in the cradle became the King on the cross.”
That’s the ultimate example of baros—with both personal and eternal significance.
In our worship and celebration of Christ’s birth this Christmas season, let us remember that sharing someone’s burden is a privilege. We’re not asked to carry the full weight of it, just help as the Holy Spirit leads.
Have you experienced this in your life? Helping lift a bit of someone’s burden … or being on the receiving end of that? If so, share your experience in the comments. It may give someone the encouragement they need today. And somehow, it will make a difference eternally.
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MUSIC and MOVIE BONUSES:
My favorite arrangement of Joy to the World. It will lift your spirits!
More uplifting arrangements:
- Mary Did You Know (Peter Hollens’ beautiful a capella multitrack arrangement)
- Gloria (A rare live performance of Michael W. Smith’s arrangement of Angels We Have Heard on High. Look for former President George HW Bush in the audience!)
Favorite Christmas movies that are free on YouTube:
- Comfort and Joy (my all-time fav)
- The Christmas Choir (based on a true story about a man who turned a group of homeless men into a choir that eventually cut six CDs and toured the world)
- A Grandpa for Christmas
Beautiful story that never gets old. I have been lifted up by many dear precious souls in troubled times. I hope and endeavor to do the same for others. Thank you for this, Lana, and Merry Christmas!
Amen and amen, Vickie! Have a glorious Christmas!
Lana, thank you so much for this thoughtful and penetrating insight. I met with the Community Group Leaders at my church today and discussed the need for fellowship in the swirling chaos of our world. We need that connectedness and relief of sharing one another’s burdens. I plan to share this post with them at our next meeting. Christmas blessings to you!
Thank you for sharing that, Gayle! I will be praying that your church leaders will receive that and will act on it accordingly. And, if it would help your cause, I’d be happy to do a Zoom talk about the topic like I did earlier this month. Let me know if there’s any way I can facilitate your efforts. Many blessings to you!
I love what you shared here. I never knew, or even thought about, the different meanings. And wow, how impactful. I have tried to carry this year of chemo pretty much by myself and it has certainly taken a tole physically, emotionally, and spiritually. God knew I needed to hear this today. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness or lack of faith.
Bless you, Rebecca! You’re exactly right–it’s not a sign of weakness or lack of faith. (Don’t let anyone every try to tell you that.) I hope you do reach out and let someone shoulder even a tiny bit of your burden. When my MIL went through cancer, I created this huge spreadsheet for her of people who were willing to help in different ways. She never once asked anyone for help. We won’t know this side of heaven what kinds of blessings that blocked. Continuing to pray for you, dear sister!