The Work of Love: Embracing Our Responsibility to Help One Another
One of the most pervasive lies in our culture today is the idea that we can thrive spiritually in isolation. Statements like, “I don’t go to church, but I have my relationship with God,” or “I’m spiritual, but I don’t need a community,” sound self-sufficient but miss the mark entirely. Scripture paints a radically different picture: one of love and responsibility within the body of Christ. If we are to be followers of Jesus, we cannot ignore His call to walk together, to bear each other’s burdens, and to restore one another in love.
In Galatians 6, Paul lays out this blueprint of community and responsibility, and as we explore these verses, it becomes clear: our love for one another is not optional. It’s central to the Gospel.
Restoring in Love
Paul begins with this command:
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
Let’s break this down. The word overtaken here comes from the Greek prolambano, which implies being caught off guard, exposed before you can hide the mistake. This isn’t about secret sins—it’s about visible missteps, the kind of faults that everyone sees. What’s our instinct when this happens? Too often, it’s to criticize or gossip. But Paul calls us to something higher: restoration.
The word restore is a medical term, referring to resetting a broken bone. Think about that imagery. When you reset a bone, you don’t bash it into place—you carefully, lovingly, and deliberately bring it back to alignment. This is how we are called to treat those who have fallen: not with condemnation, but with gentleness and grace.
But restoration doesn’t fall solely on the “leaders” or “the more spiritual.” Paul doesn’t say, “Let the pastor handle it.” Instead, he addresses all of us who are walking in the Spirit. If we are filled with the Spirit, we are equipped to speak truth in love.
This responsibility challenges us to examine our own hearts. Paul warns, “Keep watch over your own heart so that you won’t be tempted to exalt yourself over him.” Restoration isn’t an opportunity for self-righteousness; it’s a chance to love someone back to the Father, recognizing that we, too, need grace.
Bearing One Another’s Burdens
Paul continues:
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
What is the law of Christ? It’s love—plain and simple. Jesus summarized it in two commands: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39). Paul ties this love directly to bearing each other’s burdens.
The burdens Paul refers to here are the weights and troubles of life—those moments when the load becomes too heavy to carry alone. Maybe it’s a financial struggle, a crisis of faith, or simply the trials of everyday life. When we step in to help, we are fulfilling Christ’s command to love.
But here’s the thing: some burdens we can share, and others we must carry ourselves. Paul clarifies this in verse 5:
“For every man shall bear his own burden.”
At first glance, this seems like a contradiction. How can we bear one another’s burdens while also carrying our own? The answer lies in understanding the distinction. There are shared burdens—those we can lighten for others through prayer, encouragement, or practical help. But there are also personal responsibilities, like renewing our minds and walking in obedience to God, that no one else can do for us.
This balance reminds us that while community is vital, each of us is accountable for our walk with God. We cannot rely on others to do the spiritual work we are called to do ourselves.
Humility in Helping
One of the greatest dangers in helping others is the temptation to compare or exalt ourselves. Paul addresses this directly:
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” (Galatians 6:3)
Self-deception is the hardest to overcome because it blinds us to the truth. When we approach someone in need, we must come with humility, remembering that we are all sinners saved by grace.
I learned this lesson the hard way. A few years ago, I came across a news article about a well-known minister who had fallen into sin. I forwarded it to a friend with some snarky comments. His response cut me to the heart: “We don’t rejoice over a brother’s fall. We pray for their restoration.” That reproof reminded me that love doesn’t gloat over failure—it seeks redemption.
Humility keeps us focused on our own walk with God. As Paul says in verse 4:
“Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
When we fix our eyes on Jesus and live faithfully, we can rejoice in a life well-lived without falling into the trap of comparison.
Persevering in Love
Paul concludes with a call to perseverance:
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)
Loving others isn’t always easy. It’s exhausting to walk with someone through their struggles, especially when change is slow or setbacks occur. I think of a man in our fellowship who struggled with addiction. We helped him out of crack houses multiple times, only for him to relapse again and again. Eventually, we had to step back and let him take responsibility for his recovery.
Sometimes the best way to love someone is to let them bear their own burden. But even when the work of love wears us out, we are called to press on. Why? Because God promises a harvest. Every act of love, every moment of grace, every sacrifice we make will bear fruit in God’s perfect timing.
A Community of Love
Paul wraps up this section with an exhortation:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
Our love should extend to everyone, but there is a special responsibility we have to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are a family—a community bound together by the love of Jesus.
This kind of community doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality. It means showing up, speaking truth, offering encouragement, and being vulnerable. It means restoring gently, bearing burdens humbly, and persevering faithfully.
As we embrace this work of love, we reflect the heart of Jesus. He didn’t stay distant—He stepped into our mess, carried our burdens, and restored us to the Father. Let’s do the same for one another.
In a world that celebrates independence, let us be a people who live in radical interdependence. Let us love deeply, give generously, and walk humbly together. Because when we do, we fulfill the law of Christ, and the world will know we are His disciples.
