Bearing Others Burdens

Galatians 6:1-10

Imagine walking down the road and you come across someone who is overloaded with items they are struggling to carry.  They have their arms filled with many things, and heavy burdens on their back, as well. The kind and helpful thing to do would be to offer to help carry some of their packages.  And if we see them stumble while carrying this load, would we not have compassion, and hurry to help them? In our Scripture passage today from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Galatia, he urges them to be doing this in the spiritual realm, as well.  Let’s see what we can learn from God’s Word.

As Paul begins this passage, he pictures a believer who has fallen into some type of sin, one that the person is struggling to overcome (vs. 1).  So often in a community of believers, what happens then is that the person is condemned, with his fellow Christians circling with rocks in their hands, ready to stone him.  Paul says “No!” That is not what is to be done. Godly believers should, in love, help to restore that person who has fallen into sin.  It is to be done in love and humility, so that our conduct is constructive and not destructive.  We need to be careful, as well, as it is so easy to fall into sin ourself.

How is the Church supposed to respond when one member of the body is weighed down with a heavy burden, whether it is financial, in their family, or some other need?  Often the response is to look away, pretend they don’t know. Again, Paul says that should not be the case (vs. 2). Christians have a responsibility to help other believers who are having difficulties and problems.  The Law of Christ Paul mentions is the Law of Love. Love fulfills God’s law (Galatians 5:14; John 13:34; Romans 13:8, 10). We freely give of ourselves to help fellow believers in their need, just as Christ gave Himself to us.  The Body of Christ functions only when the members work together to help each other.

Paul continues on, teaching us that we should not be concerning ourselves with someone else’s walk in the Lord, but rather be concerned with our own (vs. 4).  We should not compare ourselves with others, or compete to see who is the better Christian. We need to be concerned with our own responsibility before God. Some people like to point out others faults to feel better about themselves, or for reassurance that they are doing well.  We should not look at others, but be focusing only on Jesus. He will inspire us to do our best, and will comfort us when we fall short. We are all dependent upon God’s grace. Measure our progress by the Lord’s standards, not others, and make sure we are walking according to His will.  Then we will reach out with compassions to other believers, not trying to undermine them in jealousy. God has transformed us into a new person, and we should live like it. Then we can give spiritual help to others.

Paul then proceeds to teach an important spiritual truth, that of sowing and reaping with regards to our lifestyle and behavior (vs. 7 - 9).  Some Christians falsely believe, and even teach, that our lifestyle as a Christian doesn’t really matter. God does care immensely about our conduct and motives.  We reap what we sow. Actually we will reap more than we sow, will continue to reap, and reap later than we sowed. We bear the consequences of our choices for a long time - either for good or bad.  Every action has its results. We may think that our sins will go unnoticed by anyone, including God. That is not so. God sees. He is not mocked. If we sow to the flesh, giving in to our flesh’s evil desires, we will bring corruption and decay.  Sin always corrupts.  It makes a person progressively worse in character.  The flesh wants to live and act apart from God. We will reap our sins.  As God said in Numbers 32:23, our sin will surely find us out.

If we live in obedience to God we will reap a harvest of blessings and joy.  Sowing to the Spirit accepts God’s truth into our mind and heart. Sometimes we may despair, as we are living right but still facing so many problems, and wondering where are blessings are.  Our blessings will come in due season (vs. 9).  The right season may not have come yet.  We may look at our apple tree in March or April, wanting apples, but it’s not the right season yet.  Maybe looking in the summer for a pumpkin, but we have to wait till October. Our blessings will come when the season is right.  Don’t give up! We will reap!

Are we sowing to the flesh or to the Spirit?  We plant seeds that will affect what type of person we will be.  What kind of seeds are we planting? Keep on doing good, and trust God for the harvest.