Space

What is the space you are living in right now? So many of us live in a space that is overflowing with things to do. It is not that those things are good or bad but rather just part of life. For example, we may be the head of a large project at work that requires lots of overtime. We may have children involved in sports, and their final games are the same week. We might be dealing with a child sent home sick by the school nurse; the car needs maintenance, and if we stop long enough, we may recognize we do not feel so good either. Just listing everything that can be on our plates is overwhelming! Our space is often full, and we tend not to have time for ourselves, much less anyone else.

Paul concludes Galatians with an addition to the "one another" statements that are consistently found in the New Testament. "One another" is one of the key phrases in the Christian's vocabulary. "Love one another" is located at least a dozen times in the New Testament, along with "pray one for another" (James 5:16), "edify one another" (1 Thes. 5:11), prefer one another (Rom. 12:10), "use hospitality one to another" (1 Peter 4:9), and many other like charges to the believer. Finally, in the sixth chapter of Galatians, Paul writes, "Carry one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:2). If our space is not already full enough, we, the believer, are expected to be a burden-bearer. We are to identify with the struggling brother or sister and share the pain of failure. To the church in Corinth, Paul wrote about this burden in terms of when one part of the body suffers; every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (1 Corinthians 12:26).

But wait, I am to be a burden bearer for someone else? Does this mean I should allow others to be a burden bearer for me? Absolutely. However, our pride has caused us to believe that sharing our needs with others signifies we are irresponsible, unorganized, and unspiritual. I'm afraid I could be seen as a not-good parent, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, etc. We should be willing to allow those we trust to come into our space that is cluttered with chaos, busyness, and even loneliness. 

At the end of verse 2, Paul concludes with, "in this way; you will fulfill the law of Christ." This is a great theological debate; what exactly is the law of Christ? I agree with the majority view that being "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12). We should be willing to fulfill the "one another" statements by giving love as well as being willing to receive love as we have been loved by Christ. 

Friends, I learned long ago that in order to love my neighbor as I love myself (Mark 12:31), I had to put into place the acronym of SPACE. I need to ask myself this set of questions on regular bases. "Is there a Sin I need to confess?" "Is there a Promise I need to claim?" "Is there an Attitude that I need to change?" "Is there a Command that I need to obey?" "Is there an Example in this section of scripture I need to follow?"

So, are we busy? Yes. Are we juggling many things today? Yes. Are we alone? No? When we observe a believer trying to do life on their own merit, we should be the burden bearer because we are obeying scripture. But again, we should remember that we do not have to do this life alone either; when we allow someone in our space, we are also honoring scripture by following God's command to walk alongside one another.