Christian living is a team effort
Can you recall a time in your life when you really needed some kind of help and someone was there to lend you a hand? Being a Christian requires that you put others before yourself.
Christians are not hermits, we strive to enjoy the fellowship of the Lord’s church while being a servant to all and sharing the gospel message with others.
At a county fair, the townspeople held a horse pulling contest. The first place horse ended up moving a sled weighing 4500 lbs. the second place finisher pulled 4000 lbs. the two owners decided to see what these two horses could pull together. They hitched them up and found that together they could pull 12,000 lbs. working separately they pulled 8500 lbs. , but together they produced and additional 3500 lbs. Unity consistently produces greater results than individual endeavors. Teamwork divides the effort and multiplies the results!
As Christians we need unity to accomplish the tasks the Lord would have us do! I would like you to turn to Galatians 6:1 this morning and we will look at 9 actions that Christians should possess to be unified one with another. Here in Galatians we find the churches in Galatia desperately needed some Christian teamwork! There was a clear responsibility to care for one another, but some had begun to fall away. Paul urged the Galatians to break free from the Judaizers and return to the way of faith, and there are ways you should be helping one another. Teamwork is the only way! One mark of true spirituality is the willingness to get involved in another person’s life to help that person if they are entangled in a life of sin.
Let’s read Galatians 6:1 (NKJV) - Bear and Share the Burdens
6 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
The word overtaken implies being surprised or doing something on a sudden impulse. This person is not courting sin, but it crept up on them before they realized it. The word trespass suggest that they knew it was sin at the time it happened, but it was not premediated. The restorer works meekly “in a spirit of gentleness” not arrogantly but with great care to ensure he is not caught up in this brother’s sin. There is a good reason that Paul in chapter 5 contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
As hard as we try we can fall victim to Satan and his attacks and sometimes we can be snared into a trap, Paul is saying here be careful not to give in to the same temptation when helping others! One of the reasons the church exists is to help each other to remain faithful.
John Stott said: “The correct attitude to have for others is not I’m better than you and I’ll prove it or You’re better than I and I resent it, but that you are a person of importance in your own right (because God made you in His own image and Christ died for you) and it is my joy and privilege to serve you”
verse2: Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) - 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
A spiritual person will bear another’s burden. The word “Bear” suggests shouldering another’s burdens. The burden spoken of here relates to the first verse and concerns the sorrow or shame felt by the brother or sister that has been restored. In bearing one another’s burdens Paul says we are fulfilling the law of Christ. Paul here is drawing a contrast from the Law of Moses to The Law of Christ. The Judaizers insisted that Gentile Christians were obligated to keep the Law of Moses, but Paul says there is a higher law. The difference in the two dispensations is not that one had a law and the other did not, but it was the administration of the law. The Law of Moses was administered with justice and The Law if Christ is administered with Grace and Love.
Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’40 on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Galatians 5:14 (NKJV) - 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus came to bear our burden of sin, so our love for God and one another is the heart of Christianity.
Look at verse 3: Galatians 6:3 (NKJV)
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
A spiritual person will not be filled with false pride. False Pride is evidenced with the Judaizers of the day. They boasted about themselves and their accomplishments comparing themselves to others they saw as less spiritual.
2 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NKJV)
12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.
Paul is warning about becoming arrogant. We must always remember our lives are blessed by God, and we are to have a servant’s heart!
Two Texans were trying to impress each other with the size of their ranches. One said I own the Rocking R ranch with 10,000 acres and 5,000 head of cattle. The other rancher said will I own the Flying W, Circle C, Bar U, Staple 4, Rolling M, Rainbow’s end Silver Spur ranch and I own 20,000 acres of land. Whew! The first rancher says, how many head of cattle you run…… not many the rancher said very few survive the branding!
Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the person who has it.
Look at verse 4: Galatians 6:4 (NKJV)
4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
A Spiritual person will be honest in their evaluation of themselves. The word for “examines” means to approve after testing. They will take a personal objective analysis of their own talents, abilities, strengths, weaknesses and faults. We must make sure that we are right in God’s sight before we try to straighten out someone else’s life. Jesus said:
Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV) - 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
When you do your very best, you feel good about the results. There is no need to compare yourselves to others. When you are tempted to compare look to Jesus Christ. His example will inspire us to continue to do the very best we can.
Look at verse 5: Galatians 6:5 (NKJV) - 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
At first this could seem to be a contradiction with verse 2. However Paul uses a different Greek word for Burden or Load in this verse. The Burdens in verse 2 come as a result of a fallen brother’s sins and these later burdens or loads are those that come as a result of our service to God. Paul is reminding Christians that there will come a point when we will give an account to God of our individual responsibilities and actions that we encounter in our lives.
He gave similar counsel to the Philippians: Philippians 2:3-4(NKJV)
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Look at verse 6: Galatians 6:6 (NKJV) - 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
The Spiritual Person will gladly support those who bring him the truth. Why in the middle of instructions on restoring erring Christians would Paul bring up the subject of money? Paul may have been criticizing the support of the Judiazers. A Spiritual person will morally and financially support those who preach and teach God’s word.
1 Corinthians 9:9-14 (NIV)
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
Look at verses 7-8: Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
The spiritual person will understand and believe the principle of sowing and reaping. There are two principles of sowing and reaping set forth in scripture. The first one is that we reap what we sow (vs 7). If we sow to the flesh we reap destruction (eternal death). If we sow to the Spirit we reap eternal life. The second principle of sowing and reaping is that we reap more than we sow!
Hosea said of Israel Hosea 8:7 (NIV) - 7 “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.
The pain and shame of evil are sometimes far more terrible than the deeds we commit. In verses 7-8 Paul encourages the Galatians to be Spiritual people. He urged them to remember what they sowed they would also reap. The Galatians were spending much of their time arguing over circumcision and the old law they were robbing themselves of the joys of being Christians.
Remember that where we put our time is where our heart is. Is it Spiritual things!
Make time to prepare yourself for living the Christian life and commit this New Year to putting our words into action!
Jesus taught the importance of investing our time and utilizing our resources wisely for the Kingdom when He said in Matthew 6:19-21(NKJV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Look at verse 9: Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) - 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
The Spiritual person does not tire in the pursuit of doing good, for they know that in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart!
* There’s a guy who lost almost every election he ran for – 10 or 12 – until finally he was elected President. Abraham Lincoln. He lost more than he won.
* Edison tried over 200 different elements before he figured out what was the right element to use in the light bulb. Over 200 failures before he had a success.
* In 21 years, Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs but he struck out 1330 times. He struck out nearly twice as often as he hit a home run. He once said, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from taking a swing."
It’s always too soon to quit. The Bible says we need to stop making excuses, admit when it’s our fault and get on with life. I’ve discovered that people who are very good at making excuses are rarely good at anything else. In closing let’s look at verse 10:
Galatians 6:10 (NKJV)10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
The Spiritual Person seizes every opportunity to do good despite the delayed blessings or failure to be appreciated. Priority belongs to our family in Christ, but we are to do good to all men. The word “opportunity” does not refer to occasional opportunities but to ever present opportunities in our lives.
A Spiritual person will seek to restore a fallen brother or sister in Christ, Will bear one another’s burdens, Will not be puffed up with pride, Will be honest in their evaluation of themselves, Will give an account to God of our individual responsibilities and actions, Will support those who bring the truth, Will understand the principles of sowing and reaping, Will never give up on their self or others, Will seize every opportunity do to good.
