CHRISTIAN HEALTH

Galatians 6

Note to teachers: You can have a great class by asking members to relate their experiences with each of the first several verses. To get them started talking, ask them how he can say one thing in verse 2, then appear to contradict himself in verse 5? Can you look up “paradox”?

Wayne Oates, my seminary prof in Pastoral Care who got me started in adding pastoral counseling to my skill set, once told us that Galatians 6 is the mental health chapter of the Bible. A great characteristic of mental health is the ability to inter-relate to people in a positive manner. So right off the top, Paul says “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Leon Kilbreath, a specialist in Sunday School work, strongly emphasized the calling of each member of the class each week by the teacher. Not to nag them about coming, but to see how they’re doing, fill them in on others, and ask whether there’s anything you can join them in praying about. He said we always put on our holy expressions with our Sunday clothes, smile, and greet everyone with “Hi! How are you? I’m fine, thank you.” One women’s teacher called on Friday night, and the member responded that they would be out to go to Houston. Their daughter was in the hospital with the aftereffects of a drug overdose. The teacher responded that she knew exactly what she was dealing with. Their son had gone that route for several years and just now seemed to have begun real recovery. A genuine bond was formed where they could lean on one another as Paul advised. And yet on Sundays they had greeted each other with a smile and “I’m fine, how are you?”  Be assured your class members are struggling with life from time to time. Let’s work on building a fellowship  of sharing burdens.

Back up to verse 1: “If someone comes up short…” That is the lexicon meaning, not the usual Greek word for sin, although that word also means to come short. “You spiritual ones…” There is always a danger in judging others that we jump on those sins we don’t commit while ignoring our own. Paul says we should bring them back toward maturity, while self-disciplining ourselves not to be tempted – perhaps to superiority feelings or looking down on the “sinners” because we deem ourselves “spiritual.” The idea is that the Spirit leads us to know how to help the wandering soul and set him back on the right path to join the fellowship.

Verse 2 – the Law of Christ – Love your neighbor as yourself, and the Golden Rule.

Verse 3 – a warning against pride. When the Church developed the idea of 7 Deadly Sins, pride is listed first. Many feel pride is the root of all sin. After all, sin is saying “I know better than God.” In modern life it’s more like, “It’s my life. I’ll do what I want.”

Verse 4 – Test yourself. Socrates said “The unexamined life is not worth living!” One church I’ve heard of requires a spiritual autobiography as one of the conditions of full membership! “Without comparing themselves to someone else.” Ouch! Remember Jesus telling Peter, “Don’t worry about John, you follow me!” Yet we so easily envy and become jealous. I found early as a pastor it’s difficult to thank or appreciate someone from the pulpit. There’s always someone out there whimpering because the pastor ignored him. Rather, discipline yourself to measure yourself today against where you were a year ago. A good many who run track for high school and college say they like it because you’re only measuring yourself against what you have done before.

Verse 5 – Don’t live a dependent life. Take responsibility for yourself. Don’t blame others. This is hard, but consider, “He made me mad!” Well, no, he didn’t. You chose to respond with anger. Someone else might have laughed in his face or even confronted him: “You sound angry.” Getting mad is not your only choice.

 Verse 6 – This verse is often used as a text to say pay the preacher. I frankly don’t think Paul had that in mind. The best thing to share with a real teacher is first, your appreciation, and second, by applying the teachings to your life. If the teacher makes a difference, tell them so!

Verse 7-8 – A basic principle of life. Don’t plant beans and expect corn to come up. Because of God’s grace, we don’t always get punishment for every sin, but our lives come out according to our input. Look at the famous entertainers who die young from overdoses. Louisiana lately has been named among the most obese of states. Yet we know that overweight kills early. Sowing to the flesh – living for pleasure results in a wall between you and the Spirit. Paul says sow to the Spirit – perhaps he has in mind those fruits of the Spirit in the last chapter. The blessing is eternal life, which includes joy in our present lives. I bet you know someone who can say when they changed their lives to follow Christ, they were happier than they ever imagined they could be.

Verse 9 – Remember this comes from Paul, who had more right to become discouraged than most any other missionary. As part of his account of his troubles in 2 Corinthians 11, he adds the daily worry of all the churches. Galatians, in fact, is one troubling him as he writes. In fact, it’s why he writes. Rather than getting tired of dealing with Judaizers in many places, he sends them a letter. We are to keep on keeping on. I remember a former church member in another town whom I had met as a deacon. He had fallen out of church but was highly successful in his career as an executive. Several years after occasionally visiting him, I saw him walk into the church. Surveys tell us it takes 30 visits on average to enroll one person in Sunday School if you enroll them the first time they come!

 Verse 10 – Paul summarizes by challenging Christians to seize every opportunity to do good to whomever and wherever we can. So, let’s go for it.