Paul writes about what a life that keeps in step with the Spirit (5:25) will be like in practical terms.
The life of the Christian is never to be in splendid isolation. “The New Testament knows nothing of solitary religion” was advice given to John Wesley, and well heeded by him. This section has some relevant comments and criticism to offer as asking a number of searching questions.
How do we deal with a lapsed brother or sister? Leaders in a church clearly have a responsibility in discipline not to be shirked, but let them deal with the offender gently and without censoriousness (see also 1 Corinthians 10:12, which also picks up Christ’s teaching in Matthew 7:1-5). Above all, the responsible Christian should seek to understand a delicate situation with sympathy and personal interest (6:2).
How do Christian leaders exercise authority, without being open to the charge of an overbearing manner? When does authority become authoritarianism? The safeguards are found in 6:3-5. 6:4 is a call to self-examination, but no suggestion of pride in one’s own achievement is implied. The spirit is rather that of 1 Corinthians 10:24; Romans 14:13f.
Are we shouldering responsibility which God intended us to assume (6:5)? Note that the “load” of this verse represents a different Greek word from that in 6:2, and here is probably a military expression. “Every man must ‘shoulder his own pack’” (JBP).
Are those fully engaged in Christ’s service being adequately supported by Christians who derive benefit from their ministry (6:6)? The first application is that of the duty which one being taught has to repay his teacher, but the relevance to payments to ministers today is obvious. The circumstances which made it unwise for Paul to accept money from certain churches and to prefer to maintain himself (Acts 18:1-3) must always be seen in context. At Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:8-9) and at Corinth (1 Corinthians 9:12-18) he intentionally relinquished his claim to maintenance because of the need to refute the charge that his motives were insincere, but he had no scruple about receiving gifts from Philippi (Philippians 4:10-19) and endorsed the principle of Luke 10:7 (see also 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1 Timothy 5:18) for the elders appointed in the Galatian congregations (Acts 14:23).
