Followers of Jesus often find it difficult to define what is their personal responsibility and what is not? Paul wrote to the believers in the churches of Galatia to help them clarify this issue. He wrote, “Carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2a, NIV). Then three verses later, he wrote, “Each one should carry their own load” (Galatians 6:5, NIV). That sounds a little contradictory until you clearly define the difference between a ‘burden’ and a ‘load.’ The Greek word translated ‘burden’ refers to a load that is too heavy for one person to safely carry. Trying to carry a ‘burden’ by yourself would be like trying to carry a boulder by yourself. It would be dangerous. It could crush you! We need help with ‘burdens’—the crises and tragedies of life that have the potential to overwhelm us and crush us. That’s what Paul was referring to when he wrote, “Carry each other’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2a, NIV). On the other hand, the Greek word translated ‘load’ refers to the personal belongings a first-century traveler would have carried in a backpack. God makes each of us responsible for carrying the contents of our own backpack. That’s why Paul wrote, “Each one should carry their own load” (Galatians 6:5, NIV). We have already looked at several components of an individual’s personal ‘load’—The Consequences of Your Actions, Your Ongoing Basic Needs, and Your Personal Pursuit of Truth, The Training of Your Children, The Discipline of Your Children, Choosing Your Companions, Controlling Your Thoughts, Identifying & Using Your Talents, Identifying & Using Your Gifts, Loving Your Wife, Respecting Your Husband, and Loving the Lord. Today we will look at Loving Your Neighbor! When asked by a Jewish lawyer which was the most important of God’s commandments, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38, NIV). Without being asked, Jesus explained what the second greatest commandment is. He said, “The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39, NIV). To emphasize the priority He placed on these two commandments, Jesus said, “There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31b, NIV). All Scripture must be interpreted on the basis of how they teach us to love the Lord and to love our neighbor. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:40, NIV). So let’s briefly examine that part of each believer’s personal ‘load’ that Jesus gave us when He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39b, NIV).