Carry Your Own Load

Galatians 6:5

For all must carry their own load.

When will I be able to let down this load? When you are a Man that’s all I was told.

--Kappa Alpha Psi Pledge Song.

Pledging a black fraternity was one of the most life changing experience of my lifetime. There was a lot of good that came out of a lot of bad. There were bonds of brotherhood that will never be broken. We were taught to always protect our line and watch out for our brothers. We were also taught not to be the “Weak” link. Every brother had to carry his own load. When a brother didn’t carry his share we had to step to him and tell him, he was leaning on the shield.

Those same learnings can transfer to real life. We are our brothers’ keeper but each brother/sister must carry his/her own load even as we help to carry each other’s burdens.

Paul breaks down how we are to be there for one another in the sixth chapter of Galatians.

1. If a brother messes up, restore him in a spirit of gentleness lest you be tempted in the same thing you are chastising them for. 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.


2. Bear one another’s burdens. When we were pledging we always took notice when our line brothers burdens got too heavy and we would ask permission to step in to help them carry the load. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

3. Before you check somebody else check yourself. 3For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

4But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [[a]in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.

4. For all must carry their own load. There is a balance between carrying your load and helping your brother with his burdens. When you think of yourself with sober judgment and humility, then you can discern when its time to step to another brother or sister. But even when they’re wrong the “first” time you should step to them in a Sprit of Gentleness to restore them. Restore means to give them a way to redeem themselves. In our efforts toward restoration, we will help each other become the men/women we were supposed to be but we must get there together.

Dear God, help me to be the man I want my brother to be. Give me the ability to speak truth in love to restore relationship and build brotherhood. We all mess up, and have our personal demons but together we can win and become what God has destined us to be. Lord helps us to cross over into Kingdom Land.

In Jesus Name,
Amen