Burdens and Loads

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” Galatians 6:1-5 (NKJV) [emphasis added]

Recently the topic of burdens and loads has come up in various settings as I’ve talked with people in my small group, friends, family, etc. Through some of our discussions, we’ve had conversations about the difference between burdens and loads. We’re told in Galatians 6 to bear one another’s burdens, but we’re also told to bear or carry our own load. So what’s the difference? Is this a contradiction?

There is a difference between the two. It’s not contradictory to say “help others” on one hand and then “carry your own” on the other hand. Fortunately, I’ve actually sat under some helpful teaching and have done some study on this topic. Since it’s resurfaced in recent conversations, I thought it would be a good topic to write about and share what I’ve learned.

There’s a difference between burdens and loads.

I think it would be good to start here by defining the difference between burdens and loads. Let’s look at the scriptural context here by going back to the original language.

Burdens

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

The word for “burdens” here is “baros” in the Greek language. This word was used to describe a heaviness, weight, or trouble throughout biblical text. In Strong’s definition (G922)^[1] it’s defined as something that’s abundant or a burdensome weight. It carries the notion of going down or sinking. An analogy here might be a ship that is carrying so much excess cargo that it’s causing the ship to sink under the weight of it.

So by this definition, to bear another’s burden is to take some of the weight off so that they’re not “sinking” anymore. We would relieve them of some of the heaviness that they are carrying. By doing this, we are helping them with something that they cannot do on their own or do for themselves. It would include those who are weighed down with too much and need help. Burdens cannot be carried alone.

We all have burdens, but God does not intend for us to carry them alone.

Loads

“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” Galatians 6:4-5 (NKJV)

The word for “load” here is different than the one used for “burden” in verse 2. The Greek word used here is “phortion”. This word as described by Strong’s definition (G5413)^[2] is an invoice (as part of a freight), a task, or a service. It would be something carried, as in the cargo or freight of a ship. Another example of a load is a responsibility.

Loads are an individual and independent responsibility and can be carried alone. We shouldn’t expect others to carry our “load”. Some things can and should be carried on our own.

I love how Sarah Geringer describes loads…

“We are responsible to carry our own loads, but not the loads that rightfully belong to others. It’s also not right to permit someone else to carry the load that belongs to you. Able-bodied and able-minded people are fully responsible to carry their own mental, physical, emotional, relational, vocational, and spiritual loads. That’s God’s design, both for our protection and enjoyment. …The load God assigns to you is just right for you, not too light or too heavy.”^[3]

Help, don’t enable

Therefore, ultimately we are called to bear burdens and help each other but NOT enable. It is important to comfort, counsel, help, and assist others with their burdens, those things that are so heavy they cannot carry alone. However, we are not to just do for them, enabling them by carrying their loads, something that they are responsible for and capable of carrying on their own.

God does not want us to be overburdened. However, we are expected to do our own part (i.e. carry a load). We can carry something! …As opposed to carrying nothing or to expecting others to carry things for us that we have the capability of carrying on our own.

Just because something is an inconvenience or unpleasant does not necessarily make it a burden.

We will all have final accountability for ourselves to God (Romans 14:12, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 16:27, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Peter 4:5, Revelation 20:12).

Other helpful resources and commentary:

Boundaries 101 Reading Plan (Day 2) by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend:

We Are Responsible “To” and “For”

“We are responsible to others and for ourselves. “Carry each other’s burdens,” says Galatians 6:2, “and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This verse shows our responsibility to one another.

Many times others have “burdens” that are too big to bear. They do not have enough strength, resources, or knowledge to carry the load, and they need help. Denying ourselves to do for others what they cannot do for themselves is showing the sacrificial love of Christ. This is what Christ did for us. He did what we could not do for ourselves; he saved us. This is being responsible “to.”

On the other hand, Galatians 6:5 says that “each one should carry their own load.” Everyone has responsibilities that only he or she can carry. These things are our own particular “load” that we need to take daily responsibility for and work out. No one can do certain things for us. We have to take ownership of certain aspects of life that are our own “load.”

The Greek words for burden and load give us insight into the meaning of these texts. The Greek word for burden means “excess burdens,” or burdens that are so heavy that they weigh us down. These burdens are like boulders. They can crush us. We shouldn’t be expected to carry a boulder by ourselves! It would break our backs. We need help with the boulders—those times of crisis and tragedy in our lives.

In contrast, the Greek word for load means “cargo,” or “the burden of daily toil.” This word describes the everyday things we all need to do. These loads are like knapsacks. Knapsacks are possible to carry. We are expected to carry our own. We are expected to deal with our own feelings, attitudes, and behaviors, as well as the responsibilities God has given to each one of us, even though it takes effort.

Problems arise when people act as if their “boulders” are daily loads and refuse help, or as if their “daily loads” are boulders they shouldn’t have to carry. The results of these two instances are either perpetual pain or irresponsibility.

Lest we stay in pain or become irresponsible, it is very important to determine what “me” is, where my boundary of responsibility is and where someone else’s begins.”^[4]

Pastor David Guzik on burdens and loads

In his commentary, Pastor David Guzik says,

“Bear one another’s burdens: When Paul brought up the idea of the one overtaken in any trespass, it painted the picture of a person sagging under a heavy load. Here he expanded the idea to encourage every Christian to bear one another’s burdens. The focus isn’t on “expect others to bear your burdens.” That is self-focused, and always leads to pride, frustration, discouragement, and depression. Instead, God always directs us to be others-focused, and says, “Bear one another’s burdens.””^[5]

Pastor Guzik further goes on to say,

“There is no contradiction between “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) and “each one shall bear his own load” (Galatians 6:5). In Galatians 6:5, Paul spoke of our final accountability before God. In Galatians 6:2, he spoke of our need to care for others in the body of Christ. There is also a difference in the wording Paul uses. The word for “load” in Galatians 6:5 was a common term for a man’s backpack. The word for “burdens” in Galatians 6:2 was a different word meaning “heavy burdens” — those that are more than a man should carry. In the end, we will are all responsible for our own work, but we can help bear the burdens of others.”^[6]

David Guzik’s commentary on this entire passage is good. (I recommend that you take some time later to go read the extent of it).

Setting Boundaries…a warning

When distinguishing between burdens and loads, we will need to determine when to step in and help others with a burden and when to let them carry their own load so as not to enable them. This will force us to set some healthy boundaries with people.

Be prepared that when you are setting boundaries and refusing to carry a load for someone, that person may very well get irritated or angry with you. I was recently reminded that one of our pastors, when teaching on this topic of burdens and loads, warned us that sometimes we will sacrifice over and over for some people. Then, when we don’t give them their way once, they will turn around and “bite” us.

Setting healthy boundaries and refusing to carry a load or responsibility that belongs to someone else may very well cause them to turn on you and even hurt you, even if you’ve previously sacrificed for and helped them with burdens that they’ve had in the past.

I once read that the only people that get upset when you set boundaries are those who benefited from you having none.

Dr. Henry Cloud said,

“We can’t manipulate people into swallowing our boundaries by sugarcoating them. Boundaries are a ‘litmus test’ for the quality of our relationships. Those people in our lives who can respect our boundaries will love our wills, our opinions, our separateness. Those who can’t respect our boundaries are telling us that they don’t love our nos. They only love our yeses, our compliance. ‘I only like it when you do what I want.’”^[7]

The only people that get upset when you set boundaries are those who benefited from you having none. #burdensandloads

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Jesus also helps us carry our burdens

In addition to our Christian community or in the absence of it, Jesus also helps us carry our burdens. We are told that Jesus will give us rest from our burdens.  We don’t have to carry them on our own. That doesn’t mean that the pain or the heaviness that we feel from these burdens just goes away, but he can lighten our load and remove some of the heaviness we feel.

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT) 

“Casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (HCSB)

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

**Read this post: Jesus Will Carry Your Burdens

Take Some Practical Steps to Deal With Burdens and Loads:

• First, distinguish between the burdens and loads.

Is it “crushing” you? Is it causing you to “sink” due to its weight or heaviness of it? If not, then it’s not a burden it’s a load. Remember–just because something is an inconvenience or unpleasant does not necessarily make it a burden.

• Then, if you have a burden, seek help in bearing it—either from others and/or from Jesus.

Remember, we all have burdens, and God does not intend for us to carry them alone. Don’t stay in perpetual pain. Let others help you. *Read this post about “Help From God Might Come as Help From Others” and this post about “Ask For Help. Accept Help.”

• Additionally, if others have a burden, help them to bear it.

As Christians, we need to help each other. Jesus does this for us and asks us to do this for others as well. Help them lift some of the weight. Offer comfort. Give biblical counsel. Listen and follow as the Holy Spirit guides you to assist others with their burdens.

• Next, if you have a load, accept your responsibility and carry it.

Don’t expect others to carry your “load”. Some things can be carried on your own.

• Furthermore, if someone else has a load, don’t enable them by carrying it for them.

Each person is responsible for carrying their own load. Help…but do not enable irresponsibility.

• Finally, be sure to set healthy boundaries, and be prepared for some pushback.

Are others taking advantage of you? Are you enabling people? If they can’t respect your boundaries, that should be even more of a confirmation to step back because you are most likely being manipulated and taken for granted. People that don’t respect your boundaries are attempting to take advantage of you. You are not a doormat. Set healthy boundaries. God does not expect or require you to carry another’s load.

How have you distinguished between burdens and loads? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

1. “G922 – Baros – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g922/kjv/tr/0-1/. ↑
2. “G5413 – Phortion – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible, https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5413/kjv/tr/0-1/. ↑
3. Geringer, Sarah. “The Difference Between a Load and a Burden.” Sarah Geringer, 6 Feb. 2020, https://www.sarahgeringer.com/difference-load-burden/. ↑
4. Cloud, Dr. Henry, and Dr. John Townsend. “Boundaries 101, Day 2 We Are Responsible ‘To’ and ‘For.’” Bible.com, https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/4835-boundaries-101/day/2. ↑
5. Guzik, David. “Enduring Word Bible Commentary Galatians Chapter 6.” Enduring Word, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/galatians-6/. ↑
6. Guzik, David. “Enduring Word Bible Commentary Galatians Chapter 6.” Enduring Word, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/galatians-6/. ↑
7. Cloud, Dr. Henry, and Dr. John Townsend. Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life. Zondervan, 1992. ↑