There’s an old story of a weary traveller walking down a dusty road with a heavy pack on his back. A kind man driving a cart saw him struggling and offered him a ride. Grateful, the traveller climbed onto the cart, but kept his pack strapped to his shoulders.

When the driver asked why, the traveller said, “You’re already carrying me, I couldn’t trouble you to carry my burden too.”

Of course, the driver laughed. The moment the man climbed on the cart, his burden was already being carried, whether on his shoulders or at his feet. But the traveller chose to continue to bear the burdens he really didn't need to.

That’s exactly what Paul warns against in Galatians 6.

Some believers in Galatia were preaching that Christians needed to return to obeying the Law of Moses, and compelling people to be circumcised. But Jesus had already taken away the heavy load of the Law of Moses. To go back and try to carry it again would make them like the traveller, sitting in the cart but still straining under a pack that has already been lifted.

To return to the law is to place yourself under a heavy yoke once more. The Law of Moses was difficult to keep completely. (Acts 15:10) And this is why Jesus came.

Christ has carried our greatest burden

Jesus did not abolish the law, He fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17). And because He loves us, He took this burden away from us. Let us therefore not impose extra burdens on ourselves or others, preaching that we earn God’s favor through rigid rules or legalism.

Because Jesus gives us a new yoke if we come to Him, one that is light and easy (Matthew 11:30).

So Paul redirects us to bear the right burdens. What are these?

1. Bearing one another’s burdens

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

We fulfil not the law of Moses, but the law of Christ. And what is the law of Christ? To love one another (Gal 5:14). We can now bear each other’s burdens because Christ has already borne ours. His love is the strength behind our love.

Galatians 6 begins with one example of bearing one another’s burdens - restoring brethren who do wrong (Gal 6:1). Only love, patience and gentleness can lead someone out of sin without causing them to stumble. As we bear with the failings of the weak, we build up the church for good (Rom 15:1-2).

Bearing one another's burdens could also look like empathising with someone else’s struggle, praying for a friend, or sharing time, resources, and encouragement to someone who needs it. Bearing burdens may not be about removing all their struggles, but about lightening the load by helping them carry it together. In doing so, we reflect Christ Himself.

And that is why we do not weary while doing good, because we are fuelled by the love of Christ and motivated by a true reward. (Gal 6:9)

2. Bearing our own load

Paul also says each one must bear their own load (Gal 6:5). This means a personal responsibility for our own walk with God. Even as we help one another, each of us has personal accountability before God.

While others can pray for, encourage, and support us, nothing can take the place of our own spiritual cultivation. Or, though we may be spiritual to restore another, none of us are always strong. We ought to examine ourselves and keep watch (Gal 6:4), to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). For each of us will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7).

When we are faithful in our own spiritual lives, we can walk alongside others without stumbling ourselves and others.

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God calls us to live out the law of Christ in love. The impossible burdens have already been lifted; may we not take them up again. Instead, let us learn to take up the right burdens: bearing the burdens of our brethren, and of our own walk of faith.