Resources for Burdens

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

During the Olympic games it is pretty much every athlete for themselves, barring team events. Each participant wants to swim faster, jump higher, throw further than anyone else. If someone falls during a race, everyone following just goes around without glancing back. In 2016, however, something out of the norm happened at the end of the Triathlon World Series. Jonny Brownlee was set to become world champion when 500m from the finish line, heat exhaustion caused him to almost collapse. His brother, Alistair, turned the corner and noticed immediately that Jonny was is bad shape. He could have run on past to secure his second place finish and leave Jonny with a race volunteer. But this was his brother and Alistair couldn’t bear to see him not finish what he had started, so putting an arm around him and supporting his weight, they both crossed the finish line.

In the Old Testament we read another story about brother supporting brother when Amalek attacked Israel.

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:11-12

Aaron could have just sat on the side of the hill and prayed to the Lord to sustain Moses for the duration of the battle and give him the strength he needed to hold the staff of God high. That may have brought about a very different outcome, though. Thankfully, instead of appealing to God to send help, Aaron and Hur chose to be the help.

Praying for people is great and I recommend it 100%, but if we are asking God to feed the family across the street while sitting with a ready supply of food in our own cupboard, there is a serious flaw in our prayer. Bear one another’s burdens – that means taking the weight and supporting the one who is in need. It is metaphorically putting our arm around them and saying, ‘lean on me for bit, and we’ll see this through together.’ God has given us resources for burdens and it starts with eyes to see, ears to listen, and a willingness to stretch out our hand.

Don’t just pray for help if you can be the help.