Bear Your Own Burden

“For every man shall bear his own burden.”

Galatians 6:5

The CONTEXT

1. 6:1 We are responsible as church members for the conversion and restoration of each other.
   1. Being overtaken in a fault is private sin and leaving the truth, as in James 5:19-20.
   2. The spiritual members in a church are those with spiritual perception and maturity.
   3. Restoration is done meekly, for if the truth is told, our differences are only by grace.
   4. We must consider ourselves weak and vulnerable, lest we also be tempted to sin.
2. 6:2 We are bound as church members to bear others’ burdens on a brother-to-brother basis.
   1. The law of Christ is simple – we love and serve one another (5:13; John 13:34).
   2. We bear burdens in converting wayward brothers back to the truth, as in 6:1.
   3. We bear burdens by supporting the weak in spirit, body, or liberty (I Thes 5:14).
   4. We bear burdens by praying one for another (James 5:16; Ephesians 6:18).
   5. We bear burdens by suffering with those who suffer (Rom 12:15; I Cor 12:26).
   6. We bear burdens by doing all we can to support one another (Rom 15:1-7).
3. 6:3 It is profane for saints to think so highly of themselves as being above others or helping.
   1. All men are nothing, so any lofty thought by any man is self-deceit (Ps 62:9).
   2. Without the grace of God we are nothing, and true saints always remember this.
   3. Those who think they are spiritually successful and have attained are deceived.
   4. Deceiving yourself is lying to yourself about your own value and abilities.
   5. The law of Christ – love – is to think more about others (Phil 2:3-4; James 2:8).
4. 6:4 Let every man show the character of his soul by judging and directing it by Scripture.
   1. Rather than thinking you are something, prove yourself by your use of grace.
   2. Examine and measure yourself by Jesus Christ and His Word to be confident.
   3. Rejoicing here is not in ourselves, but in God’s grace through us (I Cor 15:10).
   4. Our rejoicing is not by foolish comparisons with other sinners (II Cor 10:12).
   5. We examine ourselves and reject flattery, public opinion, and others’ failures.
5. 6:5 The Text
6. 6:6 Saints are bound to support their minister by financial remuneration for spiritual things.
   1. Communication here is not conversation, but rather the giving of carnal things.
   2. “Communicate” means to give, transfer, or impart something to another.
   3. In this context it is giving financial support (Phil 4:14; I Tim 6:18; Heb 13:16).
   4. The “all good things” are those carnal things for the support of the teacher.
   5. It is right to trade carnal things for spiritual things from a teacher (Rom 15:27).
7. 6:7 Here is a rule of God’s government of men – you will surely receive what you sow.
   1. There is no respecter of persons with God – you will be given what you do.
   2. Do not think so highly of yourself that God will allow you to escape judgment.
   3. This is an area of easy deception, so it is our sober duty to avoid it carefully.
   4. You cannot play with God and His gospel and expect to get away with it!
8. 6:8 You will surely receive in kind whatever you sow – either to the flesh or to the Spirit.
   1. If you sow – invest or plant – to the flesh, you will reap – receive – corruption.
   2. If you invest in the Spirit and His things, you will receive everlasting life.
   3. If you seek to save your life, you will lose it; if you will lose it, you will save it.
   4. Your life here and hereafter will reflect what you have sown in your life.
   5. If you seek the things of the world, you will lose all here and eternal life then.
9. 6:9 There is no reason to be discouraged and slack in this effort, for rewards are coming.
   1. There is truly a reward for well doing, and faith remembers this (Heb 11:6).
   2. The true measure of grace is the patient continuance in well doing though tired.
   3. Paul had more burdens than anyone else, but he was the most peaceful of men.
   4. Jesus told His disciples, “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19).
10. 6:10 Let us accordingly use our available opportunities to live the life of Christian service.
    1. Our holy conduct should be expressed to all men in and out of our church.
    2. But we should especially be loving servants to those of the family of God.

The TEXT: For every man shall bear his own burden.

1. Every man, woman, and child will be judged now and later by their own works.
   1. God does not use the opinions or standards of men either now or later at all.
   2. How you compare to others, especially in your own sight, is totally irrelevant.
   3. We shall all given an account of the things done in our bodies (II Cor 5:10-11).
2. The pastor is not responsible or accountable for your actions, but for warning you.
   1. Ministers are to warn their hearers, but then their work is done (Ezek 3:17-21).
   2. When men turn from God’s reproofs, they beg for God’s judgment (Pr 1:28-31).
   3. With a pastor that reproves often, irremediable judgment is coming (Pr 29:1).
   4. I have taught you much, but I cannot do beyond teaching and warning you.
   5. Neither is the church responsible for your actions – you are responsible.
3. Because you may perceive yourself better than others means nothing. God is Judge.
   1. If God has given you more grace than others, you are expected to use it.
   2. Lofty thoughts about yourself are a horrible lie. Do not lie to yourself (6:7).
   3. Measuring yourself by others is a false way of measurement (II Cor 10:12).
   4. In the light of other men’s faults, it is easy but wrong to deceive yourself.
   5. The number of stripes is determined by the amount of knowledge, and anyone in this church has been taught much and warned often (Luke 12:48).
   6. God will judge every man, even the one not given very much (Matt 25:14-30).
4. You will receive in direct proportion to what you are investing by God’s rule (6:7).
   1. Backsliders will be filled with their own ways, the faithful satisfied (Pr 14:14).
   2. Be sure your sin will find you out – our holy God does not overlook (Nu 32:23).
   3. The reward of both the righteous and wicked shall be given to them (Is 3:9-11).
   4. If you return to your vomit after instruction, your end will be bad (II Pet 2:22).
   5. God pours out wrath and their own way on the heads of enemies (Ezek 22:31).
   6. God will give every man according to his doings, so repent and live (Jer 17:10).
   7. God’s judgment is according to the fruit of one’s doing (Prov 1:31).
   8. David was better than Saul and rewarded (I Sam 13:14; 15:28; 16:12; Ac 13:22).
5. You must measure yourself honestly by what you have heard and understood.
   1. Paul was confident in his conscience of his godly conduct (II Cor 1:12).
   2. Don’t measure yourself foolishly by your family. Turn and live (Ezek 18:1-32).
   3. Do not measure yourself by the house of the Lord – or a church (Jer 17:1-15).
   4. For God deals with individuals in His churches (Revelation 2:24; 3:4,20).
   5. God killed Ananias and Saphirra in the midst of the church (Acts 5:1-11).
   6. Remember, only Joshua and Caleb made it to Canaan (Hebrews 3:16).
   7. Pure religion is measured man-by-man, woman-by-woman (James 1:22-27).

The APPLICATION

1. Is there A MAN, A WOMAN, A CHILD, who will serve the Lord alone (Ezek 22:30)?
2. God honored Moses, Samuel, Noah, Daniel, and Job as great (Jer 15:1; Ezek 14:14).
3. Pure religion is judged man-by-man, woman-by-woman, child-by-child (Jas 1:22-27).
4. In every area of life, you need to tremble before the Lord and feel His gaze on YOU!
5. Consider child training, marriage, economics, prayer, alcohol, temperance, love, sexual sins, prayer, reading, priorities, contentment, profession, memorization, etc.
6. There are real consequences for how you hear and react to God’s warnings (Luke 8:18).
7. Repent, and turn to the Lord with your whole heart and cast everything else aside!
8. There is holy fear in this lesson, for you will be held accountable for your every action.
9. There is hope in this lesson, for your righteousness will be judged apart from others.