Burdens & Backpacks

November 9, 2009

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Burdens and backpacks! To be sure, most adults carry tremendous burdens these days, and most all the kids carry backpacks. I find it interesting that Paul (the apostle) knew something of burdens and backpacks, as he talked about them in his letter to the Galatians. This is what he said: “Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (VI, 2); “For each one shall bear his own load” (VI, 5).
On the surface, it sounds like Paul is contradicting himself, but things are not always as they seem to be on the surface. The word “burden” translates a Greek word that refers to a weight much too heavy for one to bear alone; whereas, the word “backpack” translates a word that refers to a weight that one can easily carry on his own.
Like it or not, Paul tells us to bear one another’s burdens, to get under the load that is much-too-much for a brother or sister to carry alone, and bear it for him/her. Just for the record: I have noticed that oftentimes the burden that one is futilely attempting to carry is really no burden at all for someone else.
Now, listen up: when you bear the burden of another, you are easily (usually) doing for them what they cannot do for themselves. Sadly, most of the church is not doing a very good job of this, as is evidenced by the number of brothers and sisters who are burdened beyond despair.
Paul also tells us NOT to carry another’s backpack; instead, let each one carry his own load. When we do carry another’s backpack, we are doing for him what he should be doing for himself and, consequently, we are enabling him to continue down the path of immaturity. Just for the record: I have noticed that most of us have a very difficult time allowing others to carry their own backpacks. For some reason, we rush in and do for them what they should be doing for themselves; consequently, there is much immaturity in the Body of Christ.
Sadly, we have created a society, both in the secular world and in the church, where most believe that it is their right not only to have someone bear their burdens, but also carry their backpacks—an immature society, indeed.
Please allow me to encourage you to find someone whose burden you can bear and, then, to do it. It will bless both you and them. Let me also encourage you, however, to stop carrying the backpacks of others, as they really do need to have the opportunity to mature into adulthood.
By the way, when it comes time to vote again, please do NOT vote for those who are in favor of programs that encourage others to expect someone to carry their backpacks.