Freedom – Week 12
Freedom is liberation from human-led legalism to Spirit-led righteousness. Today we are wrapping up this idea of what freedom really looks like in our lives. Paul’s desire is for us to not just know ABOUT God’s plan for us, but to actually DO God’s plan for us.
Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone things he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Sirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
We are to use our freedom as an opportunity to serve others. This is the “fruit” Paul talks about in chapter 5. This is something that will come when the Spirit is there in the life of the believer.
The Gospel tells us that we are to live, walk, and keep in step with the Holy Spirit of God. It is essential. And in this passage, Paul gives us practical reasons why.
We are to be Restoring the Fallen (1-5)
Open your eyes, heart, hand. Guard yourself, your mind, your work
Sharing with Teachers (6)
When you learn things, share it with those who taught you (Parents, teachers, pastors, friends, etc.).
Reaping what we Sow (7-10)
Paul is comparing the fields (8) of the flesh vs. the Spirit. This reminds us of the previous chapter in which he calls us to deny the flesh but chase after the things of the Spirit.
We also want to be faithful in our “farming” (9) as we continue to “do good” (i.e., bear each other’s burdens, restoring those trapped in sin, and so forth). For when we are, God promises to bless us in due season, or at the proper time. And we will reap only what we have sown.
So, what does this mean for us? Well, Paul finalizes his point in the final verse here…
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Some may be asking, “I wonder if it’s possible that people could think outside of themselves and ‘bear my burden’?”
And that’s a fair question. We’ve come up with ways to excuse our lack of connection to each other, or we’ve been too hurt by the church in the past, that we’re just either unable or unwilling to become a part of it again.
But the truth of the matter is that the Bible calls us to be in community. The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is all about community and relationships; the relationship of God to man, husband and wife, brothers and sisters, Christ and the church, children and parents, the list goes on and on.
But if we try to circumvent that truth, we negate what God has established and what He’s called us to…ONE ANOTHER!
We can do far more together than we could ever do on our own, and when the burdens of life show up (those things that are so overwhelming we can’t do it on our own), we can count on the community of the church to come through.
So that means two things for us.
- We must be on the lookout to help bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters who are overwhelmed.
- We must be willing to allow others into our messy overwhelming circumstances so they can help us, too.
It’s hard to be vulnerable, but we must…it’s the only way others will know when they need to step up and help. And if we see others being vulnerable, don’t take advantage, bear their burdens and fulfill the law of Christ to love our neighbors as ourselves.