The Book Of Galatians Chapter 6 Part 2 God Wants To Change Our Heart So We Can Help Others

Seeking to help an erring brother turn from sin and rejoin the church.

Galatians 6:1  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. 

We looked at the warning and remedy for those who are overtaken in a fault. 

Paul directs his remarks to those who are "in Christ", who are the "brethren." This means that we too, can potentially be overtaken in a fault.

It is the idea of a sudden departure from the revealed truth of God's Word.

God's remedy is for those who are faithful to His Word to come alongside to help those who are overtaken in a fault, seeking to restore them.

The word "restore" means to set in joint, as putting a dislocated bone back into place.

What does it mean to bear one another's burdens?

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 

We are directed to bear one another's burdens. This may refer to one who is overcome in a fault. 

Bearing their burden will teach us forbearance and compassion towards one another.  

As a general precept, to "bear one another's burdens," reminds us to sympathize with one another when we experience various trials and troubles of life. 

"Bearing" a burden means be ready to afford each other comfort, counsel, help and assistance, according to our abilities.

It is the idea of being personally involved in helping another Christian who is struggling. 

Bearing burdens has the action of taking up with the hands and carrying a heavy object. 

The word translated "burdens" refers to things in life that weigh us down or that cause our heart to be troubled. 

Although it can refer to a heavy load that someone needs help with, a "burden" was also used in connection with spiritual burdens (See Revelation 2:24).

A burden referred to those who worked in the fields during the heat of the day (See Matthew 20:12).

As an apostle, Paul could have asked for financial support from the poorer churches, but he refused to lay such a burden on them (See 1 Thessalonians 2:6).

Bearing one another's burdens is part of living according to Christ's command to love one another (See John 13:34-35).

Christians are freed from the law of Moses, yet we are under the law of Christ. 

We must not lay heavy burdens and overbearing restrictions on others as Judaizers did. 

As we learn to bear one another's burdens in the church, our Lord Jesus Christ is honored and His love flowing through us is on display.  

Jesus gives some clear examples of bearing one another's burdens.

Matthew 25:34-40  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35)  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36)  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37)  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38)  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39)  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40)  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

The teaching of Jesus Christ helps us understand what it means to bear one another's burdens.

This section of Christ's teaching centers on future judgment. 

I think it helps to study this text from Matthew with 1 Corinthians 3:8-23 and the judgment of each Christian's service to God and others. 

Jesus defines God's standard for how we live our life after He saved us from our sins.

The standard is how we treat "brethren" in Christ. This is the same term Paul used in telling us to bear one another's burdens.

If we know of a brother or sister in Christ who are  hungry, will we bring them a meal? 

If they are thirsty, will we offer them fresh water to drink? 

If they lack clothing, do we share our clothing with them? 

If they lack friends, do we seek to become their friend?

If they are sick and shut in or in a hospital, do we visit them?

If they are in prison, do we visit them?

In Roman times, those who were in prison depended on friends or family member to bring them food and clothing. 

When in a Roman prison, Paul was refreshed by those who visited him.

2 Timothy 1:16-17  The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17)  But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 

When Paul was in a Roman prison, he spoke of being refreshed many times by Onesiphorus' visits. 

Later on, Paul requested that Timothy bring him his cloak because the prison was unheated. 

He also asked for more parchment which may have been used to record some New Testament epistles (See 2 Timothy 4:13). 

We cannot let pride or a judgmental spirit hinder bearing other's burdens.

Galatians 6:3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 

Paul was aware how pride hinders mutual condescension and sympathy toward those who were overtaken in a fault. 

Poisonous self conceit may cause us to censure and condemn our brethren, instead of bearing with their infirmities. 

Proverbs 26:12  Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 

God wants to change our heart and our way of thinking about bearing one another's burdens.

Self conceit and being self centered is the opposite of what the Spirit of God seeks to do in our heart.

If we do not yield to His leading, then we are like a fool who has no hope.

A right view of self is needed so that we can compassionately help others.

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Paul gets to the core issue regarding whether or not we bear one another's burdens. 

We have a built in tendency to think too highly of ourselves and this can hinder our involvement in the lives of other Christians.

We must keep God's perspective about our nature. 

We still carry the old man and the potential of falling into grievous sin. We will struggle with pride.

Paul is telling us to remember that God saved us. God did everything necessary in order to redeem us from our sins. 

We are nothing apart from being born again and placed "in Christ."

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 

Therefore, we are commanded to love others as we love ourselves. 

We are not to pursue heady, intellectual things because knowledge has potential to puff up our pride.

We are not to be ambitious like the world is. We must not seek to be friends of the rich and powerful because then we will ignore the poor and afflicted. 

Instead, we must be a companion of the humble and pass through life with as little show as possible. 

Let a poor, godly man be our chief companion. Let us  learn from his humility to be humble and godly. 

The word "condescend" means to be led, carried, or dragged away to prison with another. 

Many Christians were despised and rejected of men, and sent away to prison and death.

We are commanded to condescend to men of low estate. 

We must first consider ourselves and the fact that we could be overtaken by temptation. 

Therefore, with compassion we seek to minister by coming alongside to help bear the burden of our brothers or sisters in Christ.

It is said of each believer that in our flesh dwells no good thing (See Romans 7:18). 

We too, can stumble and fall and we would not want someone coming up and pridefully saying "I told you so." 

We need help, comfort and true wisdom from above in order to be recovered from falling into error.

We must remember that we also will bear our own burdens. 

We will answer for ourselves, our conduct, our faithfulness to God and the choices we make compared to His commands. 

We will not answer for how or why our brothers are overcome by a fault. 

We must not be guilty of thinking that God is going to judge them harshly for their failures. 

God will judge us nor for our sins, for they were dealt with by Christ at calvary. 

Rather, He will judge our love and service to God and to others. 

We will either receive a reward from Christ, or we will lose it (See 2 Corinthians 3:8-15).

And every man must expect to be dealt with by the Divine Judge, as his character and conduct have been. 

The failures of other Christians will not cause God to overlook our failures, no matter how small they are. 

Every man must give account of himself to God.

Self examination of our heart is needed to live according to Christ's gospel. 

Galatians 6:4-5  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5  For every man shall bear his own burden.  

Let each believer examine himself and his conduct by the words and example of Christ. 

If any of our thoughts, words and actions mirror the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we rejoice that we resemble our Lord and Master.

We must not find consolation from comparing ourselves to others who may be weaker than we are.  

The only rule for a Christian is the word of Christ. 

The only pattern for our imitation is the example of Christ. 

Christ hath left us a perfect example so that we seek to follow His steps.

A practical example of putting others' needs before our own.

Romans 15:1-6  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2)  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3)  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4)  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5)  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6)  That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thus, Paul wrote to the church at Rome that strong believers who remain faithful to the gospel, come alongside to bear the burdens of the weak.

It may be inconvenient for us to do this. It may require expending time and energy to help others. 

We must not give in to being self centered when we know a brother is struggling under a heavy burden.  

We are not to please ourselves by turning away from their plight and taking the easy way out. 

We must pour ourselves into believer's who are struggling and carrying heavy burdens. 

It does not matter who is to blame for their predicament. 

What does matter is the response of our heart to those who are afflicted with heavy burdens.

May the Lord apply these truths to our hearts as He deems best.

May we respond in faith, and live as God wants us to live.

Bob