In Galatians chapter 5 there has been an emphasis on freedom in Christ, commitment to love and Walking in the Holy Spirit. These are more than just high falutin theories, but are meant to be worked out in practical ways.
The Spirit filled walk with Christ will make a practical difference here and now. It will mean that we are caring about others. It will lead us to sharing our resources and doing good to all.
Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
One of the responsibilities for those who are in step with the Spirit is to restore the fallen ones and to restore them gently. There is a tremendous reclamation and restoration ministry out there. We are to restore the fallen away like a doctor would set a broken bone so it can heal.
When the Spirit of God moves people are restored and gently brought back into fellowship. We want to see more of this kind of powerful restoration. They are gently restored. Is someone on your heart who has fallen into the world? Ask God to use you to restore them.
Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
It would be worth your looking at a Sermon that George Truitt preached in 1917 on Galatians 6:2 and 5 on Burdens. Click here for Truitt sermon
There are some heavy burdens that people carry. Many believers are shouldering some very heavy loads. Support groups have a tremendous power to share the burden with people who care.
When Holy Spirit is moving people care like that. They are restoring the backslidden and helping people carry the tremendous burden they find themselves under whether that burden is guilt, depression or other problems of all sorts.
Don’t think you are too important for this kind of work (Vs 3). This kind of sensitive ministry is for the spiritual (Vs 4). Don’t think you are better than the one you are trying to restore. Test your own actions not comparing yourself to others.
There is a different emphasis in Vs 5 than we found in vs 2. Here is instruction about carrying your own burden. It is a different word for burden than in vs 2. Not the crushing blows of life that one could not and should not bear alone. But what is placed on your shoulders like a pack.
Spirit filled Christian cares and shares. There is a call to give generously (Vs 6-8)
The teacher of God’s Word is to be supported. Even as early as the first century there were teachers of the Word supported by God’s people. I am glad to know that it is not some distortion that came out of the dark ages of the church.
Paul worked as a tentmaker but did receive a gift from Philippi. Paul taught here and elsewhere that supporting God’s servants is the outgrowth of a Spirit led congregation. A spiritual church and spiritual Christian share finances and share burdens.
We find the principle of sowing and reaping (Vs 7-8) The farmer knows if you sow weeds you reap weeds. God is not mocked. Sow in the sinful nature you will reap destruction. Sow in Spiritual and you will reap eternal blessings. Once it is harvest time it is too late to change what you sow. But right now you can start sowing in the spiritual.
Don’t get weary Doing Good (Vs9-10). Perhaps the fallen away just got weary. They felt their perseverance didn’t really matter. We need to continue serving the Lord in patience. There are so many examples of people who worked patiently for years serving the Lord and then saw the results. There may be a particular season when you can get weary. It can be hard people get weary easily. The harvest will come. We might wait a long time. Serving the Lord will requires persistence and often patience.
The Bible says you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up. Paul faced a lot of discouragement. So many of the churches he planted and nurtured spiritually had problems. Despite that he stayed at it. He revisited them and wrote them letters to help them get back on course. He claimed the promise he made. Let us do good to all people especially other Christians.
People get burned out in serving the Lord. Don’t let it happen to you. Keep doing good and be patient. You may need to wait for the spiritual harvest. In the meantime you should be caring, sharing and patiently doing good. The eternal rewards are incredible.
