Reading: Galatians 6:1-18

Questions for the Verses 6:1 ~ Who should restore a Christian who is overtaken in sin? 6:2 ~ What should we do with the heavy burdens that others bear? 6:3 ~ What should we do with the individual responsibilities God has given us? 6:8 ~ What will those who sow to the flesh reap? What will those who sow to the Spirit reap? 6:9 ~ Instead of growing weary while doing right, what should we do? 6:10 ~ What group of people should we take extra care to treat rightly? 6:14 ~ What did Paul glory in?

Understanding the Word Paul understands that even though Christians desire to do right and do all that they can to follow the Spirit’s desires and show His fruit, Christians still sin. When a brother is caught in sin, spiritual (Spirit-controlled) Christians ought to restore him meekly. Meekness is part of the fruit of the Spirit. While helping a fallen brother back onto the path, the restorers must be on guard lest temptation capture them as well. This restoration fulfills the law of Christ by helping one another with burdens that can’t be carried alone. There is another type of burden – one that is weighty, yet light enough to be carried alone. This smaller burden is personal responsibility – proving your own work and taking responsibility for your own spiritual walk. No one should try to avoid carrying this smaller burden. This responsibility includes financial support for those who minister the gospel, but more broadly, it is defined in terms of sowing and reaping. A farmer plants seed and later he harvests his crops. If he plants corn, what will he harvest? If he plants soy beans, what will he harvest? Understand your life the same way: whatever you sow, you will reap. Live a life sowing fleshly seed and you will reap corruption; live a life sowing Spiritual seed and you will reap eternal life. This verse is not threatening a loss of salvation. Christians who sow to their flesh will reap the corruption of displeasing God and at His judgment, their lack of spiritual reward will be public (II Corinthians 5:10). Christians who sow to the Spirit will reap the everlasting joy of life in the Spirit and the eternal rewards that God gives to those who walk in the Spirit. Those rewards seem to be a long way away, so Paul reminds us not to get tired of doing right, but to patiently labor for our harvest. Be especially careful to do right toward other Christians. In verse 11, Paul returns one final time to the false teachers who demanded Law-keeping for salvation and growth. He points out their motive: fleshly glory. They preach a man-centered gospel because they desire man’s praise. Paul refused to seek such glory: he only desired to boast in the cross of Christ. He closes the book with a final plea to walk according to the Spirit’s rule, a wish of peace and mercy to Christians and to the nation Israel, and an appeal for peace between him and the church.

Key Verse: Galatians 6:7

Applying the Word Sin is real; believers face temptation; and yes, Christians can be overtaken in transgression. Christians who are walking in the Spirit have the responsibility to meekly and carefully help fallen brothers back to their feet. A Spirit-controlled heart has no room for pride. Pride is what leads us into sin in the first place, what keeps us from accepting help to get out of sin, and what puts spiritual restorers in danger. Pride is what motivates men to insist on rules for human works instead of walking in the Spirit by faith. On the other side of the contrast, we find humble patience. From the Spirit-given meekness that protects those who restore the fallen, to the patience labor of sowing and reaping to the Spirit in view of a distant reward, we are called to a life of endurance. But Spirit-filled endurance should not become a source of boasting: the only source of glory for a Christian is Christ’s cross.

Questions for Your Heart

• Are you spiritual? Not just right actions and looking right on the outside, but does God’s Holy Spirit control your heart?
• Are you willing to help others grow spiritually after they’ve sinned?
• Do you understand your spiritual position: an undeserving forgiven sinner who is still prone to sin? That is the meekness that will guard your heart when you help bear a friend’s burden.
• Are you taking responsibility for your life and bearing your own load of wise sowing and reaping?
• Are there any fleshly seeds being sown in your life? If so, what?
• Are there any spiritual seeds being sown in your life? If so, what?
• Is there anyone in the household of faith (church family) that you are not doing good to?
• Is your rejoicing and glory a result of Christ’s death on the cross, or is it your own accomplishments in your own strength?