The life of a believer (chap.6)
Help the Christian sinner: (6:1):
Any Christian who is found sinning or living in sin, must be gently restored. Restoration is a word used for the healing of broken bones in the olden times. The person who engages in such activity must be mature and faithful. He must use it delicately and gently to bring such a brother back into the faith. We must also understand that no one is immune to temptation and sin.
Carry other’s burden and our own also: (6:2-5)
The simple command is to bear one another’s burdens. Paul paints a picture of a person sagging under a heavy load. Now he is expanding that picture that bear one another’s load. Look for a brother or sister who is struggling with burdens. Help them, it is not so complicated. We don’t need special program or infrastructure to do it. “Notice the assumption which lies behind this command, namely that we all have burdens and that God does not mean us to carry them alone.” (John Stott). As we bear one another’s burdens, we are fulfilling the simple law of Christ: The Apostle John said: “a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn.13:34-35).
No Christian should ever think that he or she is totally independent and doesn’t need help from others and no one should feel excused from the task of helping others. The body of Christ functions only when the church members work for the common good. “When anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (6:3). People make comparisons for many reasons. Some point out others flaws in order to feel better of them. When we are tempted to compare, it is the best way to look at the Lord Jesus Christ. His example makes us to have a paradigm shift. Throughout this whole letter, Paul was battling with the legalists. Here Paul essentially says, “Do you want to fulfil the law? Here is your law to fulfil. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.” In other words, instead of imposing the law as a burden upon others, they should rather lift their burdens and so fulfil Christ’s law” (Stott). Further Paul says “For each one shall bear his own load” (6:5). The Bible speaks of a day when our works will be examined before the Lord. This is the judgment seat of Christ (Rom.14:10; 2 Cor.10). On that day, each one shall bear his own load. There is no contradiction between bear one another’s burdens (6:2) and one’s own load (6:5). But In (6:5), Paul speaks of our final accountability before God. In (6:20) , he speaks of our need to care for others in the body of Christ.
Our service towards Pastor-teacher: (6:6-9):
Paul is essentially saying that the members of the church must take care of the material needs of their pastors and teachers. “Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches, it isn’t payment; it is sharing” (John Stott). This is the right relationship between the minister and the congregation (Koinonia) which is nothing but fellowship or partnership. Those who feed and bless us spiritually should be supported by us financially too. Paul repeated this principle in several other places. “If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? (1 Cor.9:11) Even the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel (1 Cor.9:14). Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. (1 Tim.5:17)
It is true that “when Satan cannot suppress the preaching of the Gospel by force, he tries to accomplish his purpose by striking the ministers of the Gospel with poverty.” (Martin Luther)
For those who are hesitant to share in all good things with those who teach them, Paul reminds them of God’s principle of sowing and reaping. Their giving isn’t like throwing away money; it is like planting seeds, and whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. It is a natural law to reap what we sow. Every action has a reaction. If we plant to please our selfish desires, we will reap a crop of sorrow and evil. But if we plant to please God, we will reap joy and everlasting life. We must know what kind of seeds we are sowing. (Martin Luther) puts it strongly: “Be careful, you scoffers. God may postpone His punishment for a time, but He will find you out in time, and punish you for despising His servants. You cannot laugh at God.”The farmer reaps more if he has sown more, and the relationship between what he sows and what he reaps is exponential. A farmer can plant one apple seed and receive hundreds of apples over time. We need to wisely manage our resources before God under the principle of sowing and reaping. What we need is patience. This is because the harvest does not come immediately after we sow the seeds.