We have studied Paul the
apostle's words to the Galatian church members for quite some time
now. He has thoroughly addressed their problem of Judaizers
attempting to influence them away from the grace of God and toward
obedience to the law for salvation, and he has begun instructing them
about being led of the Spirit of God and the manner in which they
should behave toward one another. After telling them to restore one
other should they be overtaken in a fault, and to bear one another's
burdens, he now instructs them to be busy about their own work. In
chapter six and verse five Paul adds emphasis to them caring for
their own burdens. He wrote:
For every man shall
bear his own burden.
We
read where Paul taught the Galatians to “bear one
another's burdens”, and now he
tells them “For every man shall bear his own burden.”
Is Paul speaking two different
ideas here? No, rather, the idea is related to verse four where Paul
told the Galatians, “But let every man prove his own
work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in
another.” The word “For”
means, “because of or by way of” and implies that because a man
examines his own work rather than focusing upon another man's work,
he “shall bear his own burden.”
Perhaps
this is a verse that is separated that is better known in context
with verse four. Note:
But let every man prove
his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and
not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
Each of
us have our work to do, and as we focus upon our own business rather
than someone else's, we bear our own work, our own burden. We are to
have our burden upon our backs and other's burdens before us. We do
our work as unto the Lord and not unto men, and we help others bear
their burdens in the process.
Do we
keep our eyes and efforts upon our own burdens and work, or are we
constantly concerned over someone else's? Let us hear the charge of
Paul and learn to be busy about what the Lord has for us to do, and
if there is a need to assist someone else with their burden, may we
be ever more ready to help them with their tasks.
Next time Paul will teach the teachers of the word of God, so read
ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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