Galatians 6:1-4 reads, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  For each will have to bear his own load.”
One needs to understand that the original has two words for “burden” in this text. One has to do with taking our own burdens that we can bear. The other had to do with burdens that we cannot bear. They weigh too heavy for us to bear alone. All we need is just a bit of help. We are not looking for someone else to bear the burden for us. We are only needing help to bear it.
It is not so uncommon to experience a time when we can really use some help but no one steps up to help even when informing our family of the need. We tend to return the same treatment in kind so that if someone treat us fair, we treat them fair. We have a desire to return their kindness. However, if someone mistreats us, we are not pleased to help bear their burdens.
Yet, as far as I am concerned, my help is not dependent on their help. When we see a self-centered “taker” needing help with a burden beyond their ability to bear, we will move into action to help bear it for them. Whenever we see the need to help with a burden, we should not wait to be asked to help. This is too common but a need should not warrant a request to bear the burden. As far as we are concerned, we must do the right thing, regardless of what anyone else does or does not do.