Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Gal 6:1-10 KJV
We are told to bear one another burdens, then almost in the same breath we're told that every man shall bear his own burdens.
The first burden is plural and mentioned in verse 2 comes from Greek baros; weight; in the New Testament only, figuratively, a load, abundance, authority:— burden (- some), weight. burden, burdensome, heaviness, weight, burden, trouble (STRONG)
It refers to the pressures and toils, the trials and troubles the believer may find pressing down on him. It may be brought on by personal acts and issues or may it be from an outside source that becomes oppressive and may be unbearable alone.
With that in mind we find that:
1. We're commanded to reach out in compassion to help another in a spirit of meekness
The verses of our text are a continuation of the verses in the preceding chapter. They are telling us how to respond to those who have deviated, willfully or unintentionally, into the works of the flesh which, as we are already aware, are manifest!
As human beings we are prone to error and sin since the flesh is inherently and consistently in rebellion against God's Law!
Every saint has an Achilles heel that plays hell with his sanctification and best intentions.
We therefore cannot afford to become sanctimonious and supercilious in our attitude to others.
Every time we are tempted to sin (and sin it is!), by contemptuous condemnation and derogatory derision of brethren, who may be weak in obvious areas, we are pandering to the enemy, whose desire to destroy, finds a willing ally in our mean mindedness!
Some of us have become experts in the delivering of the repartee, which makes us somehow think we're elite, smart and the life of the party, whereas we are in reality being mean spirited and hurtful and destructive to the Body of Christ. Since we are also supposed to be part of that same Body it makes us self destructive. Witty comments are fine, but witty comments that are deliberately spiteful and hurtful cannot be excused in the Body of Christ.
When it comes to the faults, failures, and fall of the brethren we are commanded to restore them i.e. to mend, to repair, to put together again, not with a superior air but with a spirit of meekness, or gentleness and humility for it could have been me or you. The spiritual are those who allow the fruit of the Spirit to develop in themselves and envelope others through the grace of God. They live in the Spirit and also walk in the Spirit! That is they show spiritual by their walk more than their talk!
Remember the parable Jesus told to answer a lawyer's question?
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luk 10:25-37 KJV
Also remember Jesus' own example:
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?-- This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?-- She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Jn 8:1-11 KJV
In verse 5 is the second burden which is singular and comes from Greek phortion; an invoice ( as part of freight), i. e. ( figuratively) a task or service: burden; (Metaphor). of burdensome rites. Of the obligations Christ lays upon his followers, and styles a " burden" by way of the contrast to the precepts of the Pharisees, the observance of which was most oppressive; faults of the conscience which oppress the soul (STRONG) It refers to the call or ministry God has placed on the individual's life for He has given to everyone a ministry according to ability and quality He knows us more than we know ourselves and therefore knows what we are capable of. He does not want us to run around putting our fingers in every pie, with here a little and there a little!
2. We're to exemplify our spirituality by finding fulfillment in the ministry burden He has laid on us!
Do not enshroud yourself in the glory of another man's ministry! Become seriously involved in that which God has called to do not what you feel you should do. Many times we can become confused with what God wants us to do, and what we feel we should do. Often we go for that which brings us enjoyment, comfort and enjoyable surroundings. In our pandering to the flesh and creature comforts we can totally ignore what God really wants for us.
When the Lord called Paul to the ministry Paul was totally unaware of what was in store for him but God told Ananias: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Acts 9:15-16 KJV
The Lord also constantly reminded His disciples of what awaited them. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Mark 8:34 KJV
I am sure that not one individual who faced and endured hardship, suffering or even death, for Christ, relished the thought, but yet remained joyfully loyal to the Master.
The Lord's work is called a burden, but it is a burden which every man must bear individually! It's no longer a matter how good it feels or how convenient it is or
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2Co 5:16-21 KJV
3. We are called to exchange man made imitations and emulations for His special burden!
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mat 11:25-30 KJV
There a labor that is grievous and burdensome, forced upon you by man, making your efforts anything else but a labor of love! You do not want to do it, but you are afraid that if you don't you will be frowned upon. It becomes tedious, tiresome and produces a lot of spiritual anxiety. Jesus offers a way out. He invites us to relinquish our self efforts and rest in Him. He invites us to be yoked with Him which is easy, gracious, kind and manageable! He also invites us to take on His burden instead which is light and not burdensome. When we are engaged in His will, under His yoke, carrying the burden He gives us, our ministry becomes an enjoyable thing that we constantly look forward to fulfill for His glory!
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:9-12 KJV
