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Past Ponderings

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Do You Mutually Minister? (Galatians 6:2-6)

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Do You Mutually Minister? (Galatians 6:2-6)

GIST: True Christians minister to each other because Jesus changes how we see struggles.

   

Last week, we started Galatians chapter 6. Here, Paul is giving us more practical applications of grace. If we’ve been transformed by grace, we’re going to live gracious lives, and that is expressed in how we love each other. Verse 1 focuses on how this will result in hearts of restoration. When we see Christians being overcome by sin, we should prayerfully and gently come in and pick them back up— pointing them to Jesus. Verses 2-6 then remind us to come alongside one another when we see each other struggling and hold each other up.


“2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.”


    Here’s our gist this morning: True Christians minister to each other because Jesus changes how we see struggles. Like last week, this one is going to challenge how we love. Let’s just dive into and let the text smack us in the face. First→ 


I. True Christians Minister To Each Other

Look again at the driving verse here, verse 2: “2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” I have three quick observations. 

1. Bearing Burdens Is A Ministry Of Compassion. Depending on what translation you’re reading, you might actually have the English word “burden” used twice. Here in verse 2 and then again in verse 5 when Paul tells us we’ll each have to carry our own. Just to get the apparent contradiction out of the way from the beginning here, it is important to understand that there are two different words being used here, which is why most modern translations will use the word burdens here and load in verse 5. The idea behind the load is the weight we’re expected to carry. The burden, however, has the connotation of struggle. It’s a picture of being weighed down by too much. 

This should be how our heart goes out to everyone who is struggling. Now, the context of this passage is specifically how Christians are supposed to demonstrate grace to each other. Remember, we’re supposed to be walking this road together. As we do so, and we see fellow believers struggling because life is just too much for them, we should want to come alongside and help carry that weight. I mention desire here intentionally because I know our typical desire is to avoid eye contact. Like I said last week, we’re really great about loving from a distance, but we don’t want to get our hands dirty, and we don’t want to be inconvenienced by love. Do you remember last year when we were studying the letter of James together? In his famous discord on faith and works, he used this illustration: “15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17

When we see someone burdened by too much, true faith springs to action not to earn salvation but because a new heart is there. Burden bearing is a sign of compassion.

2. Bearing Burdens Is Meant To Be A Mutual Ministry. Notice that we’re called to bear one another’s burdens. I’m not trying to split hairs here or stretch out my point to make me seem more prepared ☺. There is something important not to miss. Paul does not say a sign of grace-transformed, Christian love is just you bearing someone else’s burdens. This is supposed to be done...together. When you see someone struggling, go to them. When you’re struggling, be willing to come for help. The illustration that came to mind as I was thinking about this was me trying to pick up one of our middle pews by myself. They’re about 15 feet long and weigh… enough. I could probably move it by myself, but not far and not effectively. I’d have to pick up one side and move it forward, then run over to the other side and move it over...etc. But… if someone came and grabbed the other side, now we’re tackling an entirely different task! AND if a few more people came and grabbed along the middle, well all the sudden no one who came to help me carry this burden is burdened at all. We could move this pew all over the place...together

That’s a picture of Christian love. And to further illustrate this, I think verse six is actually tied into this thought (even though it is often taught separately).  “6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” It’s a difficult passage for me to walk through as a pastor because it has traditionally been used to point out that churches need to financially support their pastors ☺. However, in the broader context, I think there is something bigger being expressed here. I’m called to take care of you. One of my primary ministries as your pastor is to be one who faithfully teaches you God’s Word. I want to do that. However, this verse continues to point out the two way street of real, dynamic, Christian living. Ministry isn’t something only the teachers and church leaders do. It’s what we all do. We should be living the Barney theme song. Well… at least the first part. “I love you. You love me. We’re a happy family!” Why? Because→ 

3. Bearing Burdens Is … Christ-like! In contrast with the Law of works Paul has well established cannot save us, bearing burdens is called the law of Christ. Why? This is exactly what Jesus came to do...bear the ultimate burden for you, the one you 100% could never bear on your own. “45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) If we’re really His, our lives should reflect His heart. True Christians minister to each other→ 


II. Because Jesus Changes How We See Struggles

As usual, I’ll try to be more brief on this final point. Look at verses 3-5. “3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.” Read in isolation, some of these verses could seem to directly contradict what Paul has been claiming in this application section. However, taken in context, this whole section is essentially reminding us that→ 

Kneeling At The Cross Should Destroy Snobbery & Self-righteousness. Two weeks ago, we looked at how having the right view of self will directly impact how we love one another. Here, Paul illustrates that yet again. We will carry each other's burdens when we realize how much we need help carrying ours. When we’ve been broken under the weight of our sin, and Jesus has picked us up and given us the hope we never could have earned, we look at struggles differently. 

Here Paul starts by reminding us not to be arrogant. You’re not too together to stoop to help someone else. “3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Don’t lie to yourself. You’re living in the same broken world as they are, and your heart is in just as much need of rescue. Verses 4-5 actually continue to express this, though on the surface they could appear to be saying the opposite. “4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.” What’s he saying? If you want to boast, examine your own heart. Don’t compare yourself to others. Then, you’ll see if you really have anything worth boasting about. What’s the implication here? When you examine your heart, you’re not going to find anything worth boasting in...except what Jesus has done for you! From what I’ve read, that last line which tells us we’ll then each have to bear our own loads appears to have been a common expression meaning something along the lines of “we’re responsible for our own actions”. 

When I look at my heart, I don’t see anything worth getting puffed up about. I see a man who desperately needs Jesus everyday. Guys, I’m not just saying that. Apart from His rescue and His incredible love, I don’t even want to think about where I’d be right now. If I stand, it is by His grace and His grace alone. If that grace has changed me, it should change how I love you. If that grace has changed you, it should change how you love too. 


TAKEAWAYS

  1. Look for the overloaded and step in to help carry that burden.

  2. Be willing to be helped.

  3. Praise Jesus for taking your ultimate burden upon Himself. 

     


     




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