Watch Yourself
Galatians 6
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| I pray blessings on you as you read. |
(v. 1-2) "Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (v. 4-5) "Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each on should carry his own load."
My Thoughts
If a brother or sister in Christ is caught in sin, you should not condemn them. If you condemn them, you are going against what Paul teaches here and against what Jesus would want. Jesus did not condemn anybody, nor did he come to do so. He came to restore us and save us. So if our brother or sister is caught in sin, we need to restore them, gently. Do not be harsh as that will only drive them away.
Be loving toward them as Jesus would, and remind them that Jesus loves them very much. Help them to come back into right relationship with Christ. As you help them, you need to watch yourself, that you are not led into temptation as well. This can easily happen if you are not careful. Do not let them talk you into it or show you anything of it. Do not let yourself become a part of it in any way. If you do, that is how you will be tempted and you may fall down the same hole, so to speak. If you are the one needing and receiving help, do not try to tempt the one who is helping you.
Paul says that we should carry each other's burdens so as to fulfill the law of Christ. What he means here is to carry each burdens in the way previously mentioned. That is, by helping to restore your brother or sister who is caught in sin. We are accountable to one another, remember. That is how we carry each others burdens.
You also need to watch yourself that you don't compare yourself to anyone. Comparing yourself to others only leads you to think less of yourself, and that isn't healthy. Take pride in yourself for what you can do, for what you have, in God. Don't let yourself become conceited. You are special as you are just because you are you. God made you the way He made you for a reason, and that is not so that you can be less than anyone else.
I have people comparing themselves to me for certain things, and I honestly don't like it. I have also compared myself to others, and all it does is make me feel bad about myself because I'm not as strong or as smart or as good at a particular thing. Just be you and don't worry about others. Paul says here for this that each should carry his own load. He means in terms of comparing. You don't know what someone else's life is about, so don't compare yourself.
Paul says earlier to carry each other's burdens, then here to carry your own load. Seems a bit strange, doesn't it? First he says to do so, then he says not to. That's because they are of different context. The first is in terms of companionship. The second is in terms of comparison. As companions, share with each other, help each other and be together. As yourself, be yourself and only yourself, not someone else is because they are 'better' than you in some way.
Be loving toward them as Jesus would, and remind them that Jesus loves them very much. Help them to come back into right relationship with Christ. As you help them, you need to watch yourself, that you are not led into temptation as well. This can easily happen if you are not careful. Do not let them talk you into it or show you anything of it. Do not let yourself become a part of it in any way. If you do, that is how you will be tempted and you may fall down the same hole, so to speak. If you are the one needing and receiving help, do not try to tempt the one who is helping you.
Paul says that we should carry each other's burdens so as to fulfill the law of Christ. What he means here is to carry each burdens in the way previously mentioned. That is, by helping to restore your brother or sister who is caught in sin. We are accountable to one another, remember. That is how we carry each others burdens.
You also need to watch yourself that you don't compare yourself to anyone. Comparing yourself to others only leads you to think less of yourself, and that isn't healthy. Take pride in yourself for what you can do, for what you have, in God. Don't let yourself become conceited. You are special as you are just because you are you. God made you the way He made you for a reason, and that is not so that you can be less than anyone else.
I have people comparing themselves to me for certain things, and I honestly don't like it. I have also compared myself to others, and all it does is make me feel bad about myself because I'm not as strong or as smart or as good at a particular thing. Just be you and don't worry about others. Paul says here for this that each should carry his own load. He means in terms of comparing. You don't know what someone else's life is about, so don't compare yourself.
Paul says earlier to carry each other's burdens, then here to carry your own load. Seems a bit strange, doesn't it? First he says to do so, then he says not to. That's because they are of different context. The first is in terms of companionship. The second is in terms of comparison. As companions, share with each other, help each other and be together. As yourself, be yourself and only yourself, not someone else is because they are 'better' than you in some way.
Prayer Time
Now you talk to God about what you read, and you can even read this chapter of the Bible for yourself before you do.
Let me know your thoughts on this reading as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read, I pray that what you have read blesses and inspires you! Godbless!
