This week,
we are looking at a principle that surrounds responsibility that does not
discriminate. There is a law regarding responsibility that works the same way
for all people. Yesterday, we began looking at the context in which this law or
principle is revealed and discovered that followers of Jesus have a responsibility to help one another stay on
track and live responsible lives when it comes to our relationship with Jesus.
When we see other followers of Jesus get off track, we have the responsibility
to lovingly and gently help them get back on track, while at the same time
guarding against us getting off track and into irresponsible behavior as well.
We also discovered that part of the responsibility that
we have to one another is to support and encourage one another to live
responsible lives. Today, we will see Paul confront a potential danger in
Galatians 6:3. Let’s look at it together:
For if
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each
one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in
regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.
Now verse three, if communicated in the language that we
use in our culture today, would sound something like this: “Anyone who thinks
that they are somebody when they are a nobody is only deceiving themselves.
Just because you have not had a problem with being irresponsible, you are only
misleading yourself if you think that you are better than others”.
You see, a potential danger arises when we begin to
compare our circumstances and struggles with others circumstances and
struggles. A potential danger arises when we begin to compare how responsible
we are with how irresponsible others are. And that potential danger, according
to Paul, is that we become full of ourselves and think we are somebody
spiritually.
Instead of deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are
somebody when we are nobody, in verse 4 Paul commands the members of the
churches of Galatia, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to examine his
own work. Now this phrase literally means to make a critical examination so as
to put to the test. What we are to put to the test is how we are living our
lives as followers of Jesus. Paul’s point here is that instead of comparing
ourselves with others, we are to focus on whether or not we are living
responsible lives that reveal and reflect Jesus in our character and conduct.
If their close examination of their lives reveals that
they are living a responsible life, Paul explains that they can boast, or take
pride, in something. But what they can boast in is only in regard to how they
are doing when it comes to meeting the standard of Jesus. Paul’s point here is
that if you want to compare yourself with someone, your comparison is to be
against the example of Jesus and not other followers of Jesus.
Paul hammers his point home in verse 5 when he states
that “For each one will bear his own load.” Paul’s point here is that at the
end of our lives, when we stand before Jesus, there will be no comparison of how
responsible we were with how responsible other followers of Jesus were. Paul is
saying “You better focus on your how responsible you are being instead of
comparing yourself with others”. Paul then provides a practical example of how
followers of Jesus demonstrate responsibility have as we live in community with
one another in verse 6:
The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who
teaches him.
Here we see Paul provide a practical example of how followers
of Jesus live responsibly in community with one another. When Paul commands the
readers of this letter to share all good things with the one who teaches, this
phrase literally means to give or contribute a share financially in order to
meet the material needs of the person who preaches and teaches the message and
teachings of Jesus.
Now while this passage most specifically applies to
providing material support for a pastor, I want to expand the application of
this verse to the Church as a whole. You see, when we worship the Lord through
giving, we are acknowledging God as the one who owns everything and as our
provider, and we are responding to the generosity of God by reflecting His
generosity as an act of worship. And that act of worship was divinely designed
by God to be the means by which His Kingdom Mission would be funded.
And that Kingdom mission is not just about paying the
salaries of the staff here at City Bible Church. That Kingdom mission is also
about providing the resources so that we can continue to create environments
where people can explore faith, grow in their faith, and experience genuine and
authentic community. So when we affirmed the budget here at City Bible Church,
we have agreed to take responsibility to support and encourage this community
financially.
Part of our responsibility toward one another in
community with one another is to support and encourage one another that
community financially.
Tomorrow, we will see Paul transition to reveal this
timeless and true principle when it comes to responsibility…
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