When Love Gets Messy: Carrying Each Other’s Burdens

 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Galatians 6:2

Dear Friends,

Loving God and loving others is one of the most important messages in the Bible. The Ten Commandments teach us to have no other gods before Jehovah, but they also reveal what it means to truly love others.

Honoring our father and mother, respecting life and marriage vows, practicing honesty, and modeling contentment—all these build healthy relationships. In the New Testament, Paul explains yet another way to love: carrying each other’s burdens.

What Does Carrying Each Other’s Burdens Mean?

Burdens and heartaches abound in our fallen world. Sin creates heavy baggage that leaves people struggling to survive physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet each of God’s children is called to help shoulder that load. In God’s strength, we can make a difference—but carrying each other’s burdens is rarely pleasant. It often means getting involved with someone else’s mess.

The garbage—the painful consequences of sin—is everywhere, and we can’t ignore it. I was reminded of this recently while walking down our country road. I noticed crumpled drink cans and other trash littering the grass beside the pavement. This physical refuse, much like the spiritual and emotional garbage in people’s lives, mars beauty and creates unrest.  

Two Choices: Ignore the Mess or Help Clean It Up

When we encounter someone weighed down by a heavy burden, we have a choice: we can pass by and ignore the problem, or we can step in and help. Sometimes, like Dad and I often do on our walks, you simply need to grab a plastic bag and gloves—and pick up the mess.

Paul’s Guidance: Helping Those Caught in Sin

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul offers guidance for carrying someone else’s load.

First, he highlights the person caught in sin. This isn’t a one-time lapse in judgment, but a continual, enslaving way of life. Our world is full of addictions. Many, in moments of pain, turn to drugs, food, sex, shopping, gambling, pornography, and more. These vices promise relief but never deliver. They may bring fleeting comfort, but it quickly fades, leaving the person mired in garbage with cravings that won’t quit.

God calls us as believers to help those ensnared in sin—but we must rely on the Holy Spirit. He helps us gently work to free and restore someone who is trapped. At the same time, we must stay alert to our own weaknesses. It’s possible, while helping others, to fall into the same temptations if we’re not careful.

Beware of Pride When Helping Others

Paul also warns about pride—another hidden snare. Many people do good works with the wrong motives. Paul urges us to test our actions and keep them pure. It’s natural to feel fulfilled when we help someone, but we must not compare ourselves with others or think too highly of ourselves. We each have our own trash and our own load to carry.

In short, one of the ways we show our love for God is by loving others. John reminds us that love comes from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows Him. Conversely, whoever does not love does not know God—because God is love (1 John 4:7–8).

Love in Action: Why We Need Each Other

Throughout the Bible, it’s clear: we need each other. The body of Christ must stand and work together—encouraging, building up, and carrying each other’s burdens.

Love isn’t just a sentimental feeling. It’s about putting on gloves, shouldering another’s load, and helping clean up the mess. That’s what God does for us—and what we are called to do for one another.

Love,

Mama