Multiplication

This is our last week in Galatians and today we're looking at Galatians 6. This short chapter is packed with hope and encouragement about how we are to live as a family of believers.

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.

Galatians 6:1 NIV

When people slip up and sin, there are 2 extremes we need to avoid:

1. As we talked about in the rest of this book, legalism can pull us into an unloving, self-righteous form of piety that is not really righteousness.

2. We can also fall into an overly gentle passivity that allows people to remain in their sins and even weakens us to make us more likely to fall into sin ourselves.

Practically, I've seen both played out. It's easier to allow people to sin when it's not affecting us, but it is truly unloving to allow people to go on sinning without steering them away from their sins. If we're too gentle, the person caught in sin may not take you seriously and may go on sinning. And your own conscience may be weakened, causing you to accept the sin as "normal" or "not as bad." We can't let the culture influence us in this way. On the other hand, we don't need to go in screaming, telling the other person how evil they are because of their sin. We can firmly and gently guide someone away from the sin that is hurting their relationship with Christ. That is the loving thing to do.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

Galatians 6:2-5 NIV

Again, the instruction in this section in twofold:

1. Carry each other's burdens. This means coming alongside others when they have something that is too big for them to manage on their own. Such as a sin struggle or a major life circumstance.

2. Each one should carry their own load. This emphasizes that we are all accountable to God for our own actions. Comparing ourselves to other is of no use, because God didn't make you to be someone else. He put you in your life circumstance for a purpose and he wants you to be faithful with what you have.

Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:6-10 NIV

What we plant doesn't just grow, it multiplies! When you plant tomato seeds, you don't just get tomato seeds back, you get the fruit. There are hundreds of seeds in each tomato! We should give freely to those who instruct us (our local church, ministries, pastors, etc.) and we should also do good to all people. We won't just get good fruit in return, but we also pour into people who can then go forward and change even more lives for the sake of the kingdom.

Galatians 6:9 hits me personally today as I think about the season of waiting between planting and harvesting. We do everything we can think of to please the Lord, but that doesn't mean he's just going to spit out the fruit immediately. Growing takes time. Sometimes people go their whole lives without seeing the fruit of their labor, but God has a plan. The promise still stands: we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. But notice right before that it says, "at the proper time." I don't know about you, but I often think that I know better. That I know when the time is right and if God would just give me what I want now, life would be so much better.

God's plans are not just to make your life easier, but better. We often grow closer to Him in the difficult seasons, and this allows us to glorify Him through all of life, easy or hard.

His plans are for you good, not for your convenience.

Paul finishes the chapter in his own writing. He mentions the new insignificance of Circumcision once again and then he reminds the Church what is really important:

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Galatians 6:14-18 NIV

Let's take the focus off of ourselves today. Pride can show itself in many forms. There is the obvious inflated ego, but then there is the more subtle form of pride: self-pity.

I fall into self-pity much more easily than boasting. But the way we counteract our low self-esteem is actually through worship and gratitude. We need to take the focus off of ourselves and onto Christ. In Christ, no one can tell you who you are, because all you need to know is who your God is. What do I care if someone thinks I'm ugly if I serve the God of all creation who says his whole creation is fearfully and wonderfully made. Why would I look to others to affirm my work if my works aren't what save me!

Take your eyes off the mirror and turn them to Christ.

When you do, you'll remember his grace and peace will follow.