Galatians 6:1-2 and 9-10-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.
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.
There are extra perks that come from belonging to the family of believers! We see in Galatians 6 that we are part of a family that is supposed to do good to all people, especially to those in the family of God! We are stronger together, better together.
When I analyze these verses, I see three encouragements stated here for Jesus’ people when it comes to how we relate to other Jesus’ people. Paul says here that:
When a Jesus’ person strays, there should be someone to BRING THEM BACK.
When a Jesus’ person struggles, there should be someone to help BEAR THEIR BURDENS.
Jesus’ people are to BE A BLESSING to other Jesus’ people.
Notice a nuance in Galatians 6:1 when Paul says you should go after someone who is caught in sin. He says you should restore them how? Gently. That’s right. Not just gently as in the way we say it, but in the attitude of our hearts as well. We need a spirit of humility about us because we don’t know why people give in to temptation. We don’t know the pressure they are under. We don’t know how they get sucked into the ways of the world, but understanding some of those nuances will go a long way in helping people find restoration. F.B. Meyer once said that when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are three things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin. Second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her. Thirdly, we also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances.
And the correction we seek to bring to someone’s life may be the same correction we ourselves need some day, so Paul’s word about restoring people gently is so important because that is how we would want to be treated if someone had to come after us.
Because we are stronger together, better together, we need to watch out for folks who might be straying. Second, we also need to look for those who are struggling. Verse 2 says we are to Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. You need a church family because you don’t need to walk through life’s trials alone. We are called to help bear one another’s burdens.
Picture yourself on a weight bench, lying on your back, and here comes the weight, the big burden. This burden is placed on you, and for you to hold it up for an extended period of time by yourself would be impossible. You would inevitably succumb to the weight of the burden. You feel defeated from the onset, but then to your left and to your right you see burden bearers, the people who are there to help. They are standing on each side of that barbell. They are members of the Family of God. They are those who have committed to being with you in times of trouble. You watch them as they reach for the barbell and agree to take some of the weight off of you, enabling your perseverance, enabling your endurance. They won’t let the weight crush you. You can’t hold the weight, but with their help, with the burden bearers, you can keep pressing up and on.
Because we are a family, we should look for ways to bring people back when they stray, and help bear their burdens when they struggle, and then finally, our text tells us that we are to do good, especially to those who belong to Jesus. We are to look for ways to be a blessing to one another and to do it on the regular, as a way of life because we are family.
Who can you bless? How many people can you bless? Who can you show some love to just because they are part of the Family of God? May God find us faithful to interact with one another in the ways Paul has outlined here in Galatians 6 because we are stronger and better together!
