Galatians 6:2-6
6:2
“Carry each other’s
burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
This is the second practical example of the spiritual person.
The word “carry” (“bastazo”) is used four times in the Greek in Galatians:
a)
b) 6:5 – each believer is to bear his own load
c)
d) Here in 6:2 – is believers are to help others carry their load
The word “carry” means “to bear, to carry away, to endure)7
This could refer to:
1) When temptation oppress someone
2) When life circumstances depress them.
The concept is that love fulfills the law. When someone else needs something, the spiritual man is going to help.
6:3
“If anyone thinks he
is something when he is nothing he deceives himself.”
There are two problems that will keep you from fulfilling these two practical examples properly:
1) 6:3 – You think you are something you are not. . .
a) Pride
b) The over estimating of your own self
2) 6:4 – You think you are nothing when compared to the “great” believers. . .
or, You think you are doing great when compared to the “lesser” believers
a) Low self esteem, Lack of confidence in God’s calling on your life
b) The under estimation of God’s place for you in his plan
The first here in 6:3 is when a believer neglects meeting someone else’s need it is because they are focused on themselves:
a) they do not see the need to being consumed with themselves
b) they do not think they should have to stoop to help
c) they believe that they themselves do not have that problem because they are doing things right
Paul’s statement in the Greek builds heavily on the contrast of these words:
1) “thinks” with “is”
2) “something” with “nothing”
a. the believer only “thinks” he’s “something”. . .imaginary superstar
b. in reality the believer “is” “nothing”. . . reality a zero
Romans 12:3
6:4
“Each one should test
his own actions.”
“test” is dokimazetw which means to examine, to approve after testing or examination. It refers to testing the quality of metal. Remember James 1:2-12
With a renewed mind, a correct understanding of God, his purpose, his overall general plan and how we are generally supposed to fit into it and behave, then examine your application of these truths. How are you doing??
This is the cure. You test yourself. . .
a) What has God called you to do? Are you doing it?
b) What has God placed in front of you? Have you turned away from it?
c) What do you know to be right? Are you obeying it?
d) Are there any areas in your life where you are:
-disobedient and so unable to fulfill God’s purpose
-legalistic (pride, self-service) and so distracted from spiritual purposes
Luke 17:1-10
“Then he can take
pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else. . .”
6:5
“For each one should
carry his own load.”
The duty of the Christian is to carry his own load.
The duty of the Christian is to run his own race, fulfill the purpose that God has assigned to him.
There is no contradiction between 6:2 and 6:5.
A) 6:2 is “Carry each other’s burdens (“bare”)
i. the word “bare” (Barh) means burden, that which is heavy
B) 6:5 is “each one should carry his own load (“phortion”)
i. the word “phortion” (fortion) means a burden, a load which one is expected to bear. It refers to a back pack. It is a term from the military that referred to a soldier’s kit.
The fortion was something that is expected to be carried by a healthy soldier or in this case any healthy believer. It is no one’s responsibility but your own.
In 6:2 the burden is not the normal weight of a back pack. It was something no man would be expected to carry alone.
The spiritual man knows when the weight is a fortion or a Barh
6:6
“Anyone who receives
instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.”