1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
In this verse, bearing another's burdens is the helping of another to overcome temptation and sin. Jesus did this for us in the garden at Gethsemane, bleeding from each pore. We should also note that providing meat and potatoes does not bear another's burdens because the instruction to "restore" is also significant in the alternatives that it excludes. When another is caught in a sin, do we rejoice in his fall? Do we, out of ill will or spite, broadcast his failure? Or, do we ignore and minimize his sin? All these are acts of the flesh, and not of the Spirit. Paul says, "ye which are spiritual" should restore him. This would involve confrontation, correction, instruction, and continual encouragement in directing the erring brother back to the right path.
In so bearing the heavy burdens of others, we fulfill the law of Christ.
Two things could hinder someone from becoming involved with other believers in this way. First, perhaps he "think himself to be something when he is nothing," but here "he deceiveth himself." No one should think so highly of himself as to think that he is above caring for his brothers in the Lord. A second destructive tendency is constant comparison with others, and to draw illegitimate conclusions from his supposed inferiority or superiority to his brothers. Paul says each should examine himself against the law of Christ, and not to compare himself to others, but rather to carry their burdens as they have need.
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