Galatians 5:26-6:5 The world judges by the law of accomplishments, God judges by the eternal law of Christ.

Galatians 5:26-6:5 The world judges by the law of accomplishments, God judges by the eternal law of Christ.

26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. 1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 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. 5 For each one will bear his own load.

Background

In the previous article, Paul exhorted the Galatians to emulate Christ by putting on His virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In this article, Paul directed their attention to the disharmony and infighting within their community. It is apparent that the Galatians were fast taking to the leadership culture of the world as opposed to the culture of the kingdom. For each aspires for greatness at the expense of another. Paul urged believers to lay down their fleshly ambitions and refrain from challenging one another to gain prominence. Instead, believers should compete in restoring one another to righteousness and prosperity. Indeed, God judges each person not on the basis of his raw accomplishments, but on his attitude of service towards others. Today’s devotion reminds us: The world judges by the law of accomplishments, God judges by the eternal law of Christ.

Observation

Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

To be “boastful” is to be conceited, to have exaggerated self-conceptions. A boastful person dominates and wants to be seen as prominent. Such a person is accustomed to calling out others and challenging them to a duel. He is filled with envy while secretly looking to take down anyone who is seen as better than him. Paul urged the Galatians to lay down their combative and self-serving attitudes to serve one another. A community that walks in the Spirit comprises members that see another as more important than themselves.

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.

A community that is led by the Spirit is likened to God’s kingdom where there is harmony and mutual edification. The Greek term for “caught” translates as being overtaken by something unexpected.

Here, Paul has in mind one who is new to the faith, and uninformed concerning the devices of the devil. Because he is a novice, he yields to temptation and falls into sin. Paul is not referring to a seasoned churchgoer accustomed habitual sins, who unashamedly celebrates God’s infinite capacity to forgive. But one helplessly trapped in an addiction looking to be delivered from it. He could also be one who has undergone discipline for his wrongdoing longing to return to the fellowship of the community.

Paul urged the Galatians to seize the opportunity to display their Spirit-led qualities by restoring the fallen brother or sister in a spirit of gentleness. “Gentleness” is the quality of being unimpressed by his own abilities or self-importance. It also stands for the virtues of humility, considerateness and meekness.

Paul also warned the Galatians of the inherent dangers: each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. What temptations was Paul referring to? Paul could be referring to the temptation of being combative, of taking occasion to capitalise on another’s momentary weakness. Paul urged the Galatians (in the process of restoring another) to take heed by looking to yourself, lest they themselves become caught in the trespasses of conceit, envy and gossip.

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Paul sums up the law of Christ as bearing one another’s burdens. “Burdens” refers to the weight of sanctification, or the rigours of walking in the Spirit. The “law of Christ” must be understood vis-à-vis the Law. The Law is useful so long as it translates into Christ-likeness. However, the Law as defined by the Judaizers promotes a combative and self-serving attitude through circumcision. For it attempts to obtain righteousness not by bearing another’s burdens, but by a good showing in the flesh (see Galatians 6:12). Circumcision seeks an appearance of righteousness without the element of love for God or for others. The law of Christ connotes a righteousness undergirded by love for God and service towards others. As for the law of circumcision, love is directed inwards, and is self-serving. But as for the law of Christ, love is directed outwards by bearing another’s burdens.

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Paul urged the Galatians to examine themselves according to the law of Christ. For some, in desiring to exalt themselves, live in denial as to who they really are. Such blind themselves to their true nature and thereby deceived themselves.

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.

Thus, each one must practice self-examination in a bid to understand his own heart’s posture and true nature. “Examine his own work” is to reflect on one’s motives behind their works and accomplishments. In so doing, he derives his verdict from the Lord, being fully convinced in himself and not in another’s views or by comparing himself with another.

For each one will bear his own load means each person is held accountable for the decisions he makes. He is not to blame another for his actions neither is he to blame by the actions of another. Paul warned the Galatians that God is not mocked by the insidious behaviours of some, for they will eventually be called to account for their trespasses.

Truth

The world judges by the law of accomplishments, God judges by the eternal law of Christ.

Paul took pains to address the issues of disharmony within the Galatian church. Infighting arose because members were promoting themselves at the expense of another. It is fallen human nature to dominate and oppress another. And the Galatians were fast taking to the leadership culture of the world, not to the kingdom. When Paul mentioned the law of Christ, he had in mind Jesus’s teachings that pertains to kingdom leadership and servitude.

Leadership culture of the kingdom vs. the world

Concerning the leadership culture of the kingdom, Jesus has this to say, “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” – Matthew 23:11-12. Jesus was teaching His disciples the secrets pertaining to God’s kingdom. The greatest among you refers to one who is given prominence and authority to rule. Yet such a one does not desire to be exalted but rather to be humbled. Indeed, the rulers of God’s kingdom humble and serve their way to greatness. And the road to greatness is paved with sacrifices and tears for the redemption of the world. In God’s kingdom, the great ones bear on their bodies the marks of suffering through years of battling alongside with the embattled.

Concerning the leadership culture of the world, Jesus has this to say, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.” – Matthew 20:25. The people of the world aspire for greatness not to serve but to be served (lord it over them). Jesus warned His disciples against this fallen culture,

“It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28

It is noble to aspire for greatness for the right reasons

Jesus clarified that it is not ignoble to aspire to a place of greatness and leadership. But believers must dispel the corrupted worldview of greatness and embrace greatness as defined by Jesus who gave His life a ransom for many. Therefore, believers must lay down their fleshly ambitions and refrain from competing and challenging one another to gain prominence. Instead, believers should compete in the course of restoring one another to righteousness and prosperity. For God will judge each person not on the basis of raw accomplishments, but his attitude of service towards others. The world judges by the law of accomplishments that is now passing away, but God judges by the eternal law of Christ.

Two persons can be doing the same things, but with different motives resulting in very different legacies. Therefore, Paul urges the believer to examine his own work by frequently reflecting on his motives against the law of Christ. It does not matter what the world thinks of us, or even fellow Christians for that matter. But what God thinks… for each will be called to account for works done out of the abundance of his heart.

Application

Are you for whatever reasons often in conflict with others? Do you become combative when conflicts of interests arise? It is good to examine ourselves in the light of Jesus’s attitude when He faced off with the Jewish leaders. Jesus did not hold back the truth but rebuked them on several occasions. But yet He maintained a non-combative relationship with them.

What drives you to do what you do in church? What is the ultimate goal of your service towards your family, church and community? Is your goal to be seen as worthy and prominent? Consider Jesus’s death on the cross… It is definitely not a fitting end for the Son of God. Yet He died an obscure and inglorious death to provide a life line of salvation for all mankind.

Dear Lord, I aspire to serve as Jesus served. Cause me to become one who places the interests of the community above my own. As I examine myself, reveal to me my true nature. And remove from me self-centredness, and the tendency to be combative when conflicts and perceived injustice arise. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.