week of 12/12/11 1st recorded HighQuest Galatians 6:1-10

The passage I read was Galatians 6:1-10

You can find that passage here:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6%3A1-10&version=NIV

The verse that most stood out to me:

6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

As I reflect:

Today, as my wife, oldest son, and I read the passage, 3 things stood out to me as seemingly contradictory. However, knowing that the Bible does not contradict itself, I decided that today’s reflection would be spent studying those 3 comparisons.

1 – judgment vs. helping someone caught in sin.

Matthew 7 records some basics to judgment. In the first portion of that chapter we are told, ¹ “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

And yet here in Galatians, we read

¹ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

How often do we as followers of Christ hear from others that we are not to judge them or that we are being judgmental? I can tell you that I have heard this quite often. Sadly, a great deal of the time it includes a misquote of the above verse 1 from Matthew 7. But few people who quote the verse have actually looked at it in context. In context, Matthew is not writing to tell us that Jesus said “do not judge”… In fact, it’s rather the opposite. He is clarifying your position and method of judgment. Note in verse 2 it says that you will be judged in the same manner you judge others. Now Christian tell me, how it is that you will be judged? The Bible clearly states that we will be judged by a righteous God who is just in His judgment. Thusly, if we are to judge others, then it must be in the same manner. We must first examine ourselves. For example, If I am cheating on my wife with another woman, perhaps it’s not my place to tell you that you shouldn’t look on a woman with lust after just having caught you turning your head at a passing woman… Why? Because I must first correct my own issue to have the ability to help you with yours. This passage isn’t on passing judgment, which is what one does when they make recognition of your fault without motivation to help you with it. Instead, this passage is about the love it takes to extend a helping hand to another who needs that help to get out of a sin. So, though at first glance, Galatians 6:1 appears a contradiction, after correctly viewing and understanding Matthew 7:1-5, we see that it is instead a supporting verse of how one ought to approach a brother or sister in need of help from their sin.

2. Pride is a deadly sin vs. being proud of what the Lord has done in you.

Coming to verse 4 we read,

⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load.

Now you may have heard that pride is a deadly sin and that God hates it:

Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

There are numerous verses throughout the Word that are similar to these. We can find the issue of pride as the cause for Lucifer’s downfall in Isaiah 14:12-15. We can read about the consequences of pride in Proverbs 16:18-19 and other areas as well. The difference in these types of pride and the type of pride that is shared in Galatians 6:4-5 is is that those are selfish pride that cause separation from God, whereas the pride Paul speaks of is in fact a humble pride that is thankful for the work done in the heart of a man by God having such a beautiful outcome. You can read more about this 2^nd type of pride (the good kind) in passages such as: 2 Corinthians 7:1-4 and 5:12, as well as multiple other areas. The point is to remember the humble mindset that gives glory to God for what has been done. Even if it be a work of the heart which He alone has done in you. If you have pride in what the work of the heart has allowed you to do, this then is not selfish pride, but remember to give God glory.

3. Favoritism vs. position of favor.

In verse 10 of Galatians 6 we read, ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

This may appear at first glance to be a form of favoritism against which there is a slew of verses to include:

Romans 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.

Acts 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

Colossians 3:25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

James 2:1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

& verse 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Now over time viewing these verse in context as well as many more, you may come to notice a similarity in them. For instance you will often find that the topic of discussion is the spreading of the Gospel, or loving your neighbor, or delivering justice, or general kind treatment of a person regardless of stature, income, or personality. This makes perfect sense. However, In Galatians when we read the words “especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”, we are in fact reading about the merits or mandates of a position. For example:

If I we’re given the choice of who to spend a lifetime on an island with and my options included a random neighbor I didn’t know, a friend/brother, or my wife, I would most certainly choose my wife. I wouldn’t choose because I would be more kind to her or she would be more kind to me, for both of us would equally show kindness to a complete stranger without favoritism. The fact is though, that when it comes to who I would desire to have by and in my bed, the position my wife holds as a completion of my self mandates that I would chose her for that role. Now that is not favoritism.

Another example would be Abel and Cain.

God offered them both love and they both had an opportunity to have a right relationship with Him, but when Abel took greater time and made greater sacrifice of his belongings and efforts before God, He positioned himself in such a way that God favored his sacrifice over that of his brother’s. This is not favoritism for they both were offered the same opportunity. This was a circumstance where greater effort and thought mandated greater enjoyment and benefit.

This is my final example.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… Now, I ask you if that means that He favored the world of sinners over His own Son? Of course not, but because of His position as a loving God over His creation, He chose to mandate a sacrifice on our behalf just as Jesus made a choice in accepting that mandate and laying down for the slaughter.

We are not to favor anyone or hold them in higher stature than anyone else when it comes to our love of others, the need to share the Gospel message, or in general generosity, but I do hope that I have managed to get the point across that there are positions which mandate a different type of love and generosity just as God unto man, husband unto wife, and brother unto brother. This verse again has not contradicted any other passage inspired by our Devine Creator, but has simply furthered the detail of our understanding relationships and positions. Note that for as many passages that you can use against general favoritism, you may find as many passages to support a position of favor such as:

1 Samuel 1:5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb.

Today’s study, though not brief was a very valuable reminder to me of the type of good judgment and understanding that is required when approaching the word of God. This is why when we read, my wife and I (just as many of my brothers) choose to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to teach and interpret the word for our daily application. Today I am reminded to daily apply discernment in the use of the scripture and never take a verse out of context.

My response to the Lord:

My Holy Father, we are so very thankful that upon your Son’s ascension to your right hand you left for us your Holy Spirit. I am thankful for your Holy Spirit’s guidance and reproof, and work in our lives in every way. I pray that you grant me a more sensitive ear to Your whispers, a more clear vision to your message, and more bold approach to it’s application. I pray these things in the name of Jesus.