The biblical principle of responsibility brings clarity in these areas where we might otherwise be tempted to over-function. The principle of responsibility helps us carve out some important boundaries in our lives.

To illustrate this, I’d like to look at Paul’s teaching in Galatians 6.

Galatians 6:1-5

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

In the middle of this teaching, Paul says two things that seem to be contradictory:

• V2, Carry each other’s burdens.
• V5, Each one should carry their own load.

Okay, so which one is it? Do we carry each other’s burdens or is each person responsible for carrying his / her own load?

And the answer is…both. We have a responsibility TO carry each other’s burdens. And each person is also responsible FOR carrying their own load.

The words Paul uses for “burden” and “load” give us some insight here. There is a subtle different in these words.

The Greek word for “burden” in v2 points to something excessive. It refers to a heavy weight or a stone that someone was required to carry for a long distance. Picture someone who is hauling around a heavy rock, a boulder, up a steep incline. This kind of burden would crush you if you tried to carry it alone.

This is a picture of the Moeraki Boulders that form naturally along the coast of New Zealand. Imagine trying to carry something this size on your own. It can’t be done! And that’s kind of the idea behind the word Paul uses here. He’s talking about burdens which are way too heavy for you to carry alone. You need other people to get up under that weight with you, to help shoulder that burden.

Here is a simple way to remember this: burden = boulder.

But the word for “load” in v5 is an altogether different word. This Greek word was often used to describe a knapsack or a backpack. Whereas a burden is excessively heavy and requires help in order to carry it, the “load” Paul speaks of is a reference to more everyday cares and concerns. These are the kinds of things that you need to be able to carry on your own. They go in your backpack.

And everyone has a responsibility to carry their own backpack. Remember, load = backpack.

So the difference in these teachings is like the difference between a boulder and a backpack.

• The boulder is a crisis or a tragedy that is just crushing. It’s something you cannot carry around on your own.
• The backpack, on the other hand, is something you CAN carry. Everyone is expected to carry their own backpack — their own daily loads.