Today Paul warns us about thinking of ourselves as "super spiritual Christians" who are above helping our brothers and sisters in Christ when they stumble. He's been talking about our duty to help restore a brother or sister who has fallen into sin, but he knows there may be some people in the church who think they are too good to do this.
Paul also warns us about the principle of reaping what we sow. This is a practical agricultural example that everyone can understand. When a farmer sows corn, he reaps corn. When a farmer sows corn, he reaps more corn than he sowed. The same is true of the "seed" we sow in our lives. We are going to harvest what we've planted, and we are going to harvest more of it. We should be careful to sow good seed so we can reap a good harvest.
"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions." (Galatians 6:3-4a) It's easier for us to fool ourselves than for us to fool anyone else, isn't it? Paul reminds us that we have to be on guard against thinking we're better than others. Paul is a man who probably had a lot of pride in himself at one time. He thought he was a big deal as he moved up quickly through the ranks of the elite Pharisee sect. He certainly thought he was too good to associate with Gentiles. He had nothing to do with those among his own people who were following the teachings of the carpenter from Galilee, for in his mind they were blasphemers. But on the road to Damascus the Lord appeared to Paul, and when He did, Paul saw how small he was and how big the Lord was. At the same time he saw that he had no right to think he was better than anyone else.
We might think we look pretty good when we compare our lives to the lives of some of the people we know, but this isn't how we are to test whether we are living lives that are pleasing to God. We have to compare our lives to God's holy word in order to see whether we are pleasing Him or not. After testing our actions, and if the test proves we are producing the fruits of the Spirit that Paul spoke about in Chapter 5, he says, "Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load." (Galatians 6:4b-5) He says, "Each of you should fulfill his or her calling in the Lord. Do what He has assigned you to do. If you do it faithfully, then you can have the sense of satisfaction that comes with doing a good job."
Bible critics have tried to say that verse 2 and verse 5 contradict each other. This is because some versions of the Bible translate two different Greek words into the English word "burden". In those versions we find Paul saying in verse 2 to carry each other's burdens, and in verse 5 saying every man should carry his own burden. The Greek word used in verse 2 is "baros" which means to be weighted down by heaviness or trouble. The Greek word used in verse 5 is "fortion" which means an obligation or assignment. In the book of Acts we find this word being used to describe the freight of a ship (cargo that the shipowner has contracted to carry from one port to another). So we see that there is no contradiction at all, for Paul is talking about two completely different types of burdens.
"Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor." (Galatians 6:6) He says, "Don't forget those who brought you the gospel in the first place. And don't neglect the preachers and teachers who are helping you to grow in your knowledge of the Lord. You owe these people your support, whether that support takes the form of financial help, your friendship and encouragement, or committing to praying for them every day."
It's important not to deceive ourselves about who we really are, for we can be sure God is not deceived. He knows our hearts. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8) Anyone can see the wisdom of this agricultural example. A farmer doesn't plant corn and reap squash. We can't plant carnal seed and reap a spiritual harvest.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:9-10) I've always thought Paul tells us not to become weary because he knows the troubles of this world will make us feel weary at times. Have you ever felt like you were doing your best to help others but were having no effect on their lives? Have you ever worn yourself out serving others and started to become resentful when it seemed like no one was giving you the encouragement you needed? Paul knew what it was like to work hard and to sometimes go without sleep and to have to make do with the bare necessities. I bet there were times he nearly collapsed from weariness or lack of sleep and proper nutrition, and perhaps he actually did collapse at one point because we speculated earlier in the book of Galatians that the illness he spoke of may have been due to exhaustion.
We must keep in mind that he's not saying in verses 9 and 10 that we can earn salvation through works, but that we can reap a blessing through works done for the Lord and for the Lord's people in the right spirit. If we never make ourselves a blessing to others, we can hardly expect to be blessed. We have to sow blessing in order to reap blessing. But remember, we always reap more than we sow! We can't outgive God. He will bless us more abundantly than we ever imagined if we live in obedience to Him and love others as we have been commanded to love them. I can't say whether those blessings will take the form of money, good health, harmony in the home, jobs we love, spiritual strength, or emotional happiness, but I can say on the authority of God's word here in the book of Galatians that God blesses those who are a blessing.
We don't need to say to ourselves, "Why am I being so good to others? Why does it seem like I'm having no influence on them for the Lord? Why am I working hard to serve them as Christ would serve them when it seems like it's having no effect? I feel like I'm doing all this for nothing. They are never going to change." The people we are trying to bring to the Lord may or may not ever change, but that doesn't mean our work will go unrewarded by God. We sowed good seed in the ground. We tried to be a blessing to others. God is going to give us a harvest. God is going to bless us for our faithfulness to Him and for the love we've shown to our fellow man.
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