After addressing the
theology of the church members in Galatia concerning living after the
law for salvation verses living by grace, Paul the apostle has been
giving them instructions about how to live with one another. If
someone fails, restore them. If someone has a burden, help them and
the like. In chapter six and verse three Paul gives a reason for this
manner of living. He wrote:
For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Paul begins with, “For
if a man think himself to be something,...” Paul knows there is
a deep rooted desire within the Galatian church members to “be
something”. There are people who believe themselves to be just
a little better than others, and they project it in their behavior.
They will not “stoop” to certain tasks, and they certainly will
not go out of their way to help another person. They live on the
excuse of “inconvenience”, and they desire that everyone know
their station in life. Paul sets the person with this mindset in
their place.
He continued, “when he
is nothing,...” There are people who hold prestigious positions
and places of notoriety, however there are also those who believe
they reign in important places but actually don't. Sometimes there is
nothing worse than being around a person who thinks themselves higher
ranked but are no greater than anyone else around.
Paul says, “he deceives
himself.” In contrast to restoring one who has fallen and
bearing one another's burdens, Paul shares about the person who is
deceived. Sometimes people believe themselves to be too good to
restore others, and it would be “beneath them” to serve others by
bearing their burdens. However, the kingdom of God does not work in
that manner. Jesus said in the gospel of Mark in chapter ten and
verse forty-two through forty-four:
You know that they which are accounted to rule
over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones
exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And
whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
In other words, the person
who believes themselves to be something when they are not, is
deceived and does not practice the behavior of Jesus who is Savior
and Lord of all who believe in Him.
Are we deceived into
believing we are something that we are not? Are we practicing
behaviors that make us think we are better than others, and if the
chance were afforded us would we resist restoring them or helping
them bear their burdens? Maybe we should take time after reading this
verse to meditate upon what it means to have self-righteous ideas
about ourselves that are not true.
Next time we will see how we are to be about our own work, 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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