Without going into too many examples, the trials and tribulations that we undergo in this life fit into one of two categories: public or private. We have things that we deal with daily that perhaps, as individuals, we and the Lord are the only ones that know about them. Many of my temptations and difficulties that daily arise are of a private nature that only the Lord sees and no one else. At other times, my shortcomings are public in which others see, for which I must beg forgiveness and seek reconciliation from those that I have offended. In the opening verses from above, Paul discusses a public thing. When we see the brother overtaken in a fault, it is our duty to try to assist him if at all possible. One who is privately overtaken in a fault cannot be seen by the brethren to be helped.

So, we help bear one another's burdens when we see the difficulties and problems arising. Surely, a church body is seen with each of the members helping to bear one another's burdens. As those that are covenanted together to collectively pursue the cause of Christ and for the faith once delivered unto the saints, the burdens felt are shared by the body. A married couple help bear each other's burdens as they go through their course together. Families can be plagued as a group by these things. These problems become "common" to that group, whether it be church, couple, family, etc. As a common item among them, they must share in the bearing of the burden (how much depending on the situation), and so fulfil the law of Christ. What did Christ do? He shouldered the load for us that we could not bear, and certainly He saw all of us overtaken in the depravity of our sins.

Contrast that picture with the second scenario of "let every man prove his own work." This is not brethren seeing one another in their problems and difficulties, but rather, it is us as individuals dealing with things that are not common to a group, but rather, they are personal to us. There may be things that you are going through or have gone through that I have not and may never. The folks that sing, "No one knows where I've been or the trouble I've seen" may have a point when they put their problems next to mine. I may not know, and I may not have seen. But, dear friends, whether the preacher knows or has seen, whether mother and father, brother and sister, etc have seen or not, I know of One who has seen and knows where you have been and the troubles you have seen. His eye is tenderly upon those that He loves, and He has seen and tasted of the same. (Hebrews 4:15) Thanks be unto God that He has even seen things and been to a place that we will never see or go.

Therefore, when we get to a place that we must deal with individually: bear our own burden, what must we
do? By proving the work, we are testing the labour we have done to see whether it has been of self or of the
Lord. When we prove our work, we must start at the foundation. Does it contain gold, silver, precious
stones, or is it wood, hay, and stubble? (I Corinthians 3) For us to bear our burden as a good soldier of the cross, the first thing we must do is deny ourselves. Without that, we cannot hope to build upon the true foundation stone. Notice the verse nestled in the middle of our passage. We need neverthink more highly of ourself than we ought to think.  For in failing to do this, we will never properly prove our work and so eventually bear our own burden in an adequate way.

Therefore, knowing that there are things we undergo both privately and publicly, let us consider another contrast that bears out our principle in another place. Mark 8:34 speaks of us denying ourself and
each of us bearing "his cross." Later, in Mark 10:21, Christ tells the rich, young ruler to take up "the
cross." Again, there are things common to all of us (the cross) that we undergo together. Have you ever tried talking to someone of another persuasion about salvation by grace full and free? Have you ever thought, "That is so clear, everyone will rejoice in this just like me"? Have you ever felt so lifted up in God's house that you declare, "Surely I will never doubt again" but shortly thereafter find yourself doing just that? Indeed, these are scenarios that we have all been through, and by commonality, we need to help one another during the tough times and so fulfil the ministering spirit that Christ exemplifies.

At other times, we must silently and individually deal with our own private trials with the help of our Father and Elder Brother. While their presence must be in the midst for us to help one another in a public way, we certainly need them when we bear the private burden alone with God as our strength and help in time of need. The result of the load bearing must also fit within the context of the circumstance. When a group helps bear one another's burdens, that whole group will be able to rejoice in the pleasant seasons that follow. However, we need to have rejoicing alone when we are blessed to overcome a private matter. (verse 4)

Finally, let us always keep in focus that after this context, Paul speaks of sowing and reaping. At the end of that lesson, he speaks of not being weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. (verse 9) Dear friends, whether the matter is a public or private one, be not weary in well-doing. Whether the burden is being borne of many or one, be not weary in well-doing. In due season, we shall reap if we faint not. And, even if we do not see the beneficial reaping of blessings in this life, one thing remains sure and steadfast forever.