Galatians 6.2-5
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”
Here the apostle Paul teaches an important principle about the relationship between personal responsibility and ministry to others. In verse 2 he writes, “Bear one another’s burdens (Greek baros), and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Then in verse 5 he adds, “For each man will have to bear his own load (Greek phortion).” Note that Paul uses two different words so that we are clear what we are responsible for.
The first word, baros, indicates a weight that is burdensome — often too heavy for a person to bear alone. We are to help each other with our baros burdens. The second word, phortion, refers to those things for which you alone are responsible. We are to bear our own phortion responsibilities.
A little word history will help clarify. Phortion was a common term for a pack that a man carried. Get the picture?
This is a very important message for the Christian fellowship. I also think it is an important message for American culture … indeed, for any national culture. If we do not accept responsibility for our own phortion responsibilities, then we will have neither the motivation nor the capacity to help others with their baros burdens.
It’s common sense, really. The message of phortion is that you should accept responsibility for your life and your actions. Don’t be lazy. Do your job. Do your work. Don’t expect other people to take care of things in your life that you are responsible for. Bear your own load (phortion).
The message of baros is that some people suffer from burdens, difficulties, and adversity that they cannot bear alone. It’s too much, too big, too heavy to be endured by themselves. They need our help and support.
However, a big problem arises when people treat their responsibility (phortion) as if it is a burden (baros) that others should bear. This is when people fail to take responsibility for their own life and expect others to bear the burden of doing things for them that they should be doing for themselves.
This is clearly happening in the broken welfare state in America, but it is also happening in the church. The effect is that vital and limited resources that should go to people genuinely in need are diverted to and wasted on people who should be taking care of themselves. It’s called enablement, and it is terribly damaging to everyone involved.
This is not about being indifferent or hard-hearted toward people in need. Don’t fall for that manipulative and deceitful narrative. The whole point of this passage is that we should, in fact, take care of people who are in genuine need. But the passage also says “For each will have to bear his own load.” In other words, take care of yourself! Take ownership of your life. Take responsibility. Do not ask others to do for you what you should be doing for yourself. When you take ownership of your phortion, you are then liberated and empowered to help others!
Over the years, I have met a lot of “needy” Christians who consistently fail to take ownership of their spiritual life. They are constantly seeking help and support from other Christians, and the consequence is that people in real need (baros) do not get the help, support, and resources they need.
One last insight before we close. Jesus tells us that in order to follow him and learn from him, we must accept the phortion responsibilities that he gives to us.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden (phortion) is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Do you want to follow Jesus? Do you want to learn from him? Then you accept this fourfold responsibility:
Recognize his holiness and your sinfulness.
Repent of your sin.
Receive his grace and forgiveness.
Respond to his teaching.
