Galatians 6 (3)

Pray Psalm 32.8-11.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Sing Psalm 32.8-11.
(Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Teach me, LORD, how I should live; sound instruction ever give.
let me never stubborn be; let Your eye watch over me,
let Your eye watch over me.

Though the wicked wail and weep, they rejoice whose souls You keep.
Trusting, we exult with praise, joyf’ly singing all our days,
joyf’ly singing all our days!

Read Galatians 6.1-5; meditate on verses 4, 5.

Preparation
1. What did Paul want us to examine?

2. Why should we examine this??

Meditation
Paul calls us to maintain an active self-watch over our work (v. 4). He doesn’t just mean our job. His focus is on all our work, everything we do—down to eating and drinking (1 Cor. 10.31)—to make sure we are seeking the honor and glory of God and the edification of our neighbors.

The word “examine” in the Greek is δοκιμαζω (dokimadzo) and, according to Louw and Nida’s lexicon, it means “to try to learn the genuineness of something by examination and testing, often through actual use—to test, to examine, to try to determine the genuineness of, testing.” I think we need to “examine” our work in three ways.

First, in the planning we do for each day’s work. Let it be done in prayer, using a passage like Psalm 90.12, 16, 17 to guide us in preparing our soul for the day’s appointed tasks, and calling on Him for strength and grace in all our work. Next, we must stay alert during our work to make sure our heart is right and we are doing our work with as much excellence and humility as we can. Then, at the end of the day, review in prayer the work we’ve done that day, giving thanks and praise to God and noting areas for improvement. Here are a few you might meditate on: Did my work express excellence in line with the excellence of the Lord? Was the fruit of my work consistent with Kingdom fruit? Was my work a help or hindrance to others in doing their work? Were the fruits of my work what they should have been in terms of quantity?

This is part of how we bear the load God has given us, and how we seek always to improve our work before the Lord (v. 5).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“Were the fruits of my work what they should have been?”
The answer is yes, if in fact, we are focused on living and working out the fruits of the Spirit.

Is it possible that we are confused about the fruits of a life well-lived in Christ Jesus?

Let’s examine this: Within the realm of Christendom there seems to be more emphasis put upon verbally sharing the Gospel than in living out the Gospel.

Witnessing is a process, not an event. The fruits of the Spirit are lived by bearing the characteristics of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5.22, 23). In other words, following the Law of God (Ex. 20.1-17; Matt. 22.37-40; Jn. 14.15). And imitating Jesus. Being filled with Jesus. Spreading Jesus.

By living out God’s standard of righteousness we shout the testimony of God’s goodness and grace. Our lifestyle witnesses of His merciful forgiveness and His righteous judgments. And when we speak of His salvation, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our words ring true. We don’t come across like “sounding brass or clanging cymbals” (1 Cor. 13.1); but more like Jesus: longsuffering, kind, not envious, self-serving, conceited, rude, selfish, or quick to get angry. Jesus also had no evil thoughts, ever, and found no joy in sin of any kind. What made Jesus rejoice was Truth. He bore all suffering and sin for us. He believes the best about us. His hope is based solely on the Hope that never disappoints; and He endured earth for us (1 Cor. 13.4-7).

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Heb. 12.1-3).

“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His Name’s sake” (Ps. 23.1-3).

So that I can “help bear another’s burdens” and “bear my own load” (Gal. 6.2, 5).
For the sole purpose of living to please God,
exhibit His characteristics, for His honor and glory;
and to love, encourage, and comfort others,
and win souls through my life, love, obedience, actions, and words.

With Jesus, this yoke is easy, and the burden is light (Matt. 12.30).

Reflection
1. How would you explain the idea of “burden” to a new believer?

2. What does it mean for you to have to bear your own burden?

3. How do you “examine” your own work? Why is this important?

Here Paul shows that we must scrutinize our lives. We must test what we have done not cheaply but stringently. For example, suppose you have done something good. Consider whether it might have been through vanity or through necessity, or with animosity, or in hypocrisy, or through some other self-centered motive. John Chrysostom (344-407), Homily on Galatians 6.4

Pray Psalm 32.1-7.
Ask the Lord to examine your work—all the work you do each day to advance His Kingdom and bring Him glory. Listen for the Spirit’s prompting as you name each aspect of your work and wait on the Lord. Call on Him to enlarge your work and to give you the grace to serve well.

Sing Psalm 32.1-7.
(Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Blessed are they whose sins the LORD has forgiven by His Word!
Pure their spirits are within; them He charges with no sin;
them He charges with no sin!

When in silence I remained, groaning in my sinful pain,
You Your hand upon me lay; all my strength You drained away,
all my strength You drained away.

I confessed my sin to You; You forgave me, ever true!
Let confession’s pleading sound reach You while You may be found,
reach You while You may be found!

When flood waters threaten me, You my hiding place will be.
O’er them I will rise above, buoyed by Your redeeming love,
buoyed by Your redeeming love.

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.