In Marriage, Spouses Seek to Bear One Another's Burdens

This week's guest columnist is Lee Lovett, pastor of Northside Presbyterian Church in Winder, who shares the third of multiple columns on the topic of marriage.

Ephesians 5:21 makes it clear that in a marriage both partners must be servants. We have already seen that in a good biblical marriage the husband and the wife give preference to one another (Romans 12:10). Now I want to look at the second area of servanthood that leads to a good marriage. A marriage that thrives is one in which both the husband and the wife seek to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:1-3).

It is important that husbands and wives understand that on this side of heaven no one is perfect. God asserts the fact that we will sin after becoming a Christian (Galatians 6:1, Romans 7, I John 1:8-10). When we sin, the Holy Spirit will convict us of that sin; but God also has encouraged other Christians to help the fallen brother or sister return to walking in fellowship with God.

Notice in verse one of Galatians 6 that God says when a Christian sins, those who are walking in the Spirit should seek to restore the sinful one. How is it to be done? Not in a “holier than thou” attitude; rather, this is to be done in a spirit of gentleness realizing we are capable of the very same sin.

Husbands and wives (servants), we are then told to bear the sinful one’s burdens (guilt, remorse, oppression, etc.). The word “bear” in the original has the idea of “to lift up or carry off.” In other words, help them to rid themselves of this guilt. How? By pointing them to the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

What is this “law of Christ”? James 1:25, 2:12, Romans 8:2 and other Scriptures remind us that the law of Christ is liberty or grace! We are to help lift the burden of our spouse, not by making them feel more guilty when they confess their sin; instead, we must point them to Christ, reminding them of His blood that covers their sin and encouraging them to rest in His forgiveness, love, and grace.

God is in the process of sanctifying His people. This means that no husband or wife is perfect. Each will see times of success in Christian maturity, but there will be times of failure also. Husbands and wives, rejoice when you see the evidences of Christian growth in your spouse; but when you see evidences of the “old man,” don’t “beat your spouse up.” Rather, seek to help them carry their burdens to Christ and the freedom He gives to all His people.

May we ask God to help us be a servant to our spouse and watch how God blesses!