Carry One Another’s Burdens – Galatians 6

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #168.  Today we’ll read the 6th and final chapter of Galatians together:  Paul admonishes us to carry one another’s burdens and ends his letter with some final exhortations.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

Wow!  That was fast!  I told you they would start speeding along.  This letter to the Galatians is a tight little, easily understood letter.  What stood out to you?  What spoke to?  And if you’re willing share, how did the Holy Spirit convict you heart?  Do you know all nine fruits of the Holy Spirit by heart?  

I do know them by heart, but that doesn’t mean that I always give sway to the work the Holy Spirit wants to do in me.  I struggle daily with self-control.  I want to do what I want to do is the long and the short of it.  Most times it shows up in outbursts of anger and my gluttony at the dinner table.  There, I shared it. 

Not only here in Galatians, but James also  tells us to bear one another’s burdens, but the flip side to that is that we have to confess them so that a trusted brother or sister can come alongside and share that burden.  I know, we need to exercise discernment… not everyone needs to know everything.  But God has called certain people in your life to walk this journey with you.  Use them.  Use them for accountability; use them to pray for you; allow them to share your load.  And then love them back.  

As always, if you’re willing to share, I would love to hear your stories.  You can tell them publicly or privately at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Galatians Chapter 6

Carry One Another’s Burdens

Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load.

Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the teacher. Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

Concluding Exhortation

Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised — but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God!

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Closing Thoughts

I love this final laundry list of things to remember that Paul gives to both the Galatians and us:  

• Dear ones in our lives will slip up.  We are to gently bring them back, providing that we are living by the Spirit and are careful not to fall ourselves.
• By sharing one another’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ, which is to love your neighbor as yourself.
• Don’t deceive yourself by thinking too highly of yourself.  
• Examine yourself and don’t compare yourself to others.  
• Each person will have to carry his own load.  This refers not to the burdens we just talked about but to life’s routine obligations.  God expects us to remain faithful to those responsibilities.
• Share all good things with the one who teaches from God’s Word.  I recognize that this has several potential meanings, but for me, I choose to interpret this as treating your pastor well, whether its compensation, a good meal, or encouragement.
• Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked.  You will reap what you sow.  This one is kinda scary but true.  And it applies to everyone – Christian and non-Christian alike.  They call that a universal law.  As my pastor always says, be careful that you are not too casual with God.
• Do not get tired of doing good, especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer

Let’s pray.  Father God, thank You for this wonderfully practical little letter.  I suppose, Father, that if we were to follow only what is written in this letter, we would do well.  I pray, Holy Spirit, that as we delve deeper and deeper into your Word, that Your fruit will become more and more apparent in our lives.  Thank You that You who have started a good work in us will carry it on to completion on the Day of Christ.  Amen.

 Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.