Galatians 6 (2)

Pray Psalm 105.3-7.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!
Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
O seed of Abraham His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
He is the LORD our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.

Sing Psalm 105.3-7.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Glory in God, rejoice in heart, all you who seek His holy part.
Him and His strength and Presence seek; His works proclaim, His judgments speak.

You holy children of Abraham, you chosen ones of Jacob, stand!
He is our LORD, of wondrous worth; His judgments are in all the earth.

Read Galatians 6.1-3; meditate on verses 2, 3.

Preparation
1. How can we fulfill the Law of Christ?

2. How do we deceive ourselves?

Meditation
Commentators connect “burdens” with verse 1 and the sins we are called to confront. We bear one another’s burdens when we take it upon ourselves, with gentleness and humility (v. 3), to work for the restoration of one who has fallen into sin.

I think this interpretation is true as far as it goes. But burden-bearing is not limited to restoring another from sin. We are daily beset with many burdens—work, decisions, problems in a relationship, being a witness for the Lord, dealing with trials and temptations, illness or injury, and meeting our daily needs. Our neighbor’s burdens are no different and may be more intense. We must be prepared to “bear” such burdens as the opportunity presents. How can we do that?

Burden-bearing begins with being an attentive and compassionate listener. People will talk about their burdens—some more than others—because they are seeking a sympathetic ear. But they may be seeking more. Help with a decision. Guidance for a relationship. Assistance with a problem at work or in the home. Counsel and encouragement in seeking the Lord. As we listen, if we discern a burden, we should ask more questions and offer whatever assistance we can. We must be always ready to do good works (Tit. 3.1). That good work can be prayer, physical or material assistance, succor or encouragement, help of one sort or another. Thus we fulfill the law of Christ, which is the law of love (Matt. 22.34-40).

And, when necessary, we must bear our neighbor’s burden of sin by helping them to confess, repent, and seek the path of restoration.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God never calls us to do something He is not willing to help us do. And being involved with Him in works of “burden-bearing” is exciting work indeed! “For we are God’s fellow workers…” (1 Cor. 3.9).

Listen carefully to other’s burdens and:
“Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away” (Matt. 5.42).
“There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.
The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself” (Prov. 11.24, 25).
“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.
Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,’ when you have it with you” (Prov. 3.27, 28).

Again, Paul warns us to be mindful of boastfulness, if we manage to do what we are supposed to do.
“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Gal. 6.3).
When we are guilty of this, we are a lot like Naaman, who was a man covered in leprosy, who got in a huff because he was told to bathe for healing in waters he felt were lesser-than. Not worthy of a man of his stature (see 2 Kgs. 5.1-14). We dare not get that attitude whilst serving in God’s Kingdom work.

And besides, love, as Paul told us, “Does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no evil” (1 Cor. 13.4, 5). Absolutely no room there to be prideful.

And James adds another layer to Paul’s instructions:
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of food, [has burdens that need to be borne by another] and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jms. 2.14-16).

The burdens of the world are huge. We cannot carry all of them. Hardly, even, some of them.
But that is why God, in His wisdom, has called each individual Christian into their own Personal Mission Field, to bear the burdens of those within that sphere of their lives.

It is a genius plan, and we have the exciting opportunity to be part of it—in humility, burden-bearing right where we are—with all the Help we will ever need to do the work at hand.

Reflection
1. How should you prepare for each day’s burden-bearing?

2. Can you think of a time when someone bore your burden with you? Take a moment to thank God and then to thank them.

3. How many different ways did Jesus bear the burdens of those He came to save?

Let arrogance be removed, and we shall all discover the greatest modesty in our conduct towards each other. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Galatians 6.3

Pray Psalm 105.1, 2, 8-11, 45.
Thank the Lord that He is faithful to His promises and bears your burdens day by day. Pray that you might be more like Jesus in this regard.

Sing Psalm 105.1, 2, 8-11, 45.
(Warrington: Give to Our God Immortal Praise)
Give thanks unto the LORD Most High; call on His Name, before Him cry!
Make known His deeds in every land; sing praise for all the works of His hand.

He will His covenant faithfully guard—His oath, the promise of His Word.
That which He to our fathers swore, He will perform forevermore!

So let us all in our Savior confide, and in His holy Law abide.
Let us observe His glorious Word, and praise our sovereign, faithful LORD!

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.