Think of someone you know who is truly helpful. When you share a concern, they provide helpful insight. When your dishwasher breaks, they know exactly who to call. When you’re discouraged, they lift you up, speaking life into your soul. This is how God wants His followers to live – to “share each other’s burdens.” What does it mean to share a burden? It means that your burden actually becomes my burden. I feel as much urgency to get this issue solved as you do. I hold up this weight with you.
How do we do this? We do this by caring about what others are going through - not being caught up in our own universe. We are genuinely interested in others and ask how they’re doing and how we can be praying for them. It’s interesting (and really cool) how honestly people will answer that question when it’s asked with genuine care. Then, we respond with practical help when needed. “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15 – 16). Practical help looks very different for different people. Some people need help putting food on the table. Others just need someone to listen to them. And every person needs prayer, whether they admit it or not.
Let’s look for ways to help each other on this journey. Our goal in life is to help as many people as possible come to know God and to help those who know Him come to know Him more. “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Consider. Think about it. Put disciplined thought into how to uniquely help each person God has placed in your path. Let’s be genuinely helpful to fellow Believers as we strive side by side, arm in arm – with steel in our spine – all the way to Glory.*
*Special thanks to Ray Ortlund for this amazing mental image in a sermon he gave at my incredible church - Christ Covenant in Atlanta, GA.