Mapperley Monday Mail, 23rd March 2015
Hi all,
Yesterday, we finished off our series in Paul's letter to the Galatians looking at 5:26-6:18. It seems a bit odd to start with 5:26 – it's the last verse in its chapter, and the (sometimes helpful) NIV section heading comes at the start of ch 6. But actually looking at chapter 6 in terms of the last few verses of chapter 5 really shows how it hangs together.
In 5v25 Paul tells the Galatians to keep in step with the Spirit – to keep up with what God is doing in their lives by his Spirit. In chapter 6 Paul shows some examples of what that looks like.
In 5v26, Paul tells the readers not to be "vainglorious" (or "conceited" in the NIV). Don't be puffed up like a balloon which might look impressive but is actually empty. One way of looking at chapter 6 is by seeing what "Mr Vainglorious" would do, and that we are called to do the opposite.
Mr Vainglorious doesn't seek to restore people who have messed up v1
When people get "caught in a sin", he seeks to tear them down, or igonres them and lets them flounder, or even takes advantage of the situation for himself. Not so with the Christian – we are called to seek to restore the other person "in a spirit of gentleness", which might include appropriate punishment but still aims at their restoration.
Mr Vainglorious doesn't look to carry other people's burdens v2
Christians who are led by the Spirit ask "what burdens are my brothers and sisters in Christ carrying?" and "How can I carry those for them?"
Mr Vainglorious ignores the evidence when it comes to his gifts v3-5
Paul tells his hearers to have a realistic view of their own gifts and abilities, which means testing them (v4) – i.e. having a go at things and getting reliable feedback to see how it goes, avoiding the temptation either to assume that we must be brilliant at something or that we must be awful at it. There's plenty of ways to serve at St Jude's – welcome team, COGs, youth work, music, helping out at homegroups, etc. Give them a go!
Mr Vainglorious doesn't value Bible teaching v6
Mr Vainglorious gives up when the going gets tough v7-10
Paul in contrast uses the picture of a farmer, who does lots of ploughing and sowing and hard work before he sees much sign of the crop that is to come. In the same way, he reminds us to hold onto God and keep trusting God and keep serving God, even when we're tired, because he will reward those who bless others, especially those who are God's children.
Mr Vainglorious doesn't love the cross v14-16
But all of those are just symptoms. The real problem is that Mr Vainglorious is empty. He might look impressive, he probably wants others to think he is important but his sense of self is based on things that are ultimately worthless – achievements, possessions and so on. Paul sees that the only thing that really matters – the only thing that is really worth being proud of – is the cross of Jesus. The cross gives Paul the strength to serve others, knowing how God has served him. It gives him the security to know that he is loved and valued, and so he doesn't have to find his value in his gifts, service or achievements. It means that he can keep going, because he knows that God himself is utterly committed to finishing what he has started and rescuing Paul, so that he can keep going, even when times are hard.
Paul sees that what really matters is the cross. Compared to that, everything else is worthless. As Isaac Watts wrote in one of my favourite hymns:
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boastsave in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
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