Title: How People of Grace handle
Introduction
Today we finish up our series on the book of Galatians by looking at chapter 6:1-10.Today’s message is titled “How People of Grace handle Burdens and Blessings.”
Every life is a composite of burdens and blessings!This is not heaven. There is no “And they lived happily ever after” here on earth. We call that a fairy tale. That’s not reality! The Bible is not a fairy tale. Its reality. Real people have burdens and blessings.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,5 for each one should carry their own load.6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.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.9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
V1-5 How people of Grace handle burdens
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,5 for each one should carry their own load
1. Let’s start by looking at where do burdens come from?
When you know where burdens come from you can help prevent some burdens from coming .
1. Some burdens come because we are caught in a sin
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin…”
A. When you are caught in a sin it always gives birth to a burden.
Being caught in a sin is never a blessing. Being caught in a sin is always a burden.
Sin beats you up. Sin blocks your progress.
Condemnation, guilt…
B. Sin lies to us and deceives us into believing our sin gives birth to a blessing.
C. We first see this lie in the garden of Eden.
You will not die. Instead you will be like God.
Sin disguises the burden underneath by putting a blessing on top.
It’s a blessing on the surface with a burden underneath.
D. The NIV translates verse one this way. “if anyone is caught in a sin.
E. Sin sets out to catch us
In order to catch us it has to trap us.
A trap never looks like a trap to the object it is trying to trap.
Illustration: A mouse trap.
When the mouse sees the cheese it sees it as a blessing not a burden.
When you are caught in a sin you sooner or later experience a burden
2. Some burdens come because we are caught in the sins of others.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
A. lie: My sin has no effect on someone else. My sin will never be a burden on someone else
B. Illustration of the truth
(shoplifting, insurance fraud,…)
Car insurance fraud costs us an extra 50 euro in premiums.
Every person in some way bears burdens that other’s caused.
The Bible teaches that through the sin of Adam death entered the world.
Many people are burdened because they have tried unsuccessfully to help others with their burdens.
They fall for the same temptation
You try to help a negative person. You become negative.
You try to help an angry person. You become an angry person.
3. Some burdens come because we don’t know our limitations
“For if anyone thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
Our thinking is faulty- thinking you can take on more than you can handle
Example: You think you can work 100 hrs a week
Faulty actions- not examining your own actions
4. Some burdens come because of just doing life
“For each one shall bear his own load.”
Some burdens come not because of sin but because of responsibilities given to us.Just the fact that we are living presumes we have every day responsibilities that must be done.(work, study, pay the bills…)
The more responsibilities we have the more burdens we carry.Notice Paul doesn’t call these every day responsibilies burdens. He calls them loads. As long as we manage our responsibilities well they don’t become a burden
How do people of Grace handle burdens?
There are some burdens we are to bear and some burdens we are to share.The burdens we are to bear are the loads of our own everyday responsibilities.There are certain things that no one else should be doing for us.We are not babies anymore.A neglected load becomes a burden.When I say that’s not my responsibility anymore. I’m going to wait till someone else helps me. That load will become a burden.
Loads we bear. Burdens we share!
The burdens we are to share are those things that are too great for us to bear alone.The problem is that sometimes we confuse the two. We expect people to help us with loads they have no business helping us with.Nobody should be burdened with the responsibility to make someone else do their load.
Burdens are a different matter. Through no fault of our own we need others to help us with our burdens.
This is the law of Christ!Christ came to carry the burden of our sins to the cross.
“at the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away.
Qualifications
1. Are we spiritual enough to help carry a burden of another
2. Are we gentle enough to help carry a burden of another
V6-10 How people of Grace handle blessings
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.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.9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Where do blessings come from? And why is it important to know where blessings come from?
So you know where to go to get a blessing
1. Blessings come from following the instructions found in the Word of God
See Psalm 1
2.Blessings come from sowing to please the Spirit
How do you sow to please the Spirit. By following the instructions found in the Word.
If burdens come from sowing to the sinful nature. Blessings come from sowing to the spiritual nature.
Why am I following the instructions in the Word. In order to get a blessing
You have to know how God works.Do not be deceived. Do not mock God.What you sow you will reap.
Blessings come from persevering and not giving up. Illustration: Jacob
You get a bigger blessing back than what you gave.
How to handle your Blessings
You share your blessings!
1. With those who bless you.
Blessings are not a one way street. Blessings are meant to work both ways.
I will bless those who bless you.
You don’t bless to get a blessing. You bless because you received a blessing.
Context. Don’t just share your burdens with others. Share your blessings also.
2. Bless those who are in the family of believers
3. Bless all people !
Be known as a giver. It is more blessed to give than receive. Imitate God
