READ: Gal. 6:1–2: … Bear one another’s burdens …
Paul now addresses the church with words of brotherly admonition: brothers! The church is, after all, God’s household, in which we are connected to one another to live out the communion of saints in unity of true faith. Mutual interaction must include gentleness, even when you think you must address someone else’s sin.
It is important not to show irritation, disdain, or pride, but to admonish in love, seeking to build up the other in faith. You are moved by concern for your brother’s or sister’s salvation and try to help them.
Paul refers here to church discipline as described in Matthew 18. That gentleness and humility are not natural to our old self. This too requires faith that works through love—a love that compels you to correct someone, meaning to help restore what is wrong on the path of acknowledgment and forgiveness.
We must realize that we are all at risk of falling into sin due to our mortal enemies: the devil, the world, and our own sinful selves. This makes us aware of our own weakness, even when we admonish (1 Cor. 10:12: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”).
At the same time, there is the danger of being drawn into another’s sin (2 Pet. 3:17; Jude 23).
Bear one another’s burdens: Stay close to one another and offer support in faith and brotherly love through difficulties, sorrow, trials, temptations, and struggles.
We need each other within the congregation, where the Holy Spirit dwells and works (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12). This is how it was right after Pentecost: “they were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32).
Bearing one another’s burdens also means being patient, bearing with one another, forgiving one another, putting on love as the bond of perfection, and living in peace with one another (Col. 3:12–15; James 5:16). In this way, the law of Christ is fulfilled: love as the new commandment (John 13:34), in which He has gone before us.
Do you feel personally addressed by these words?
Sing: Ps. 112:1,2