Our house is not old, built in 2006; it is pretty new by housing standards. Even though it is relatively new, it requires routine maintenance and, from time to time, more significant repairs. Having kids, I know I’ll need to repaint a surface or patch a hole periodically.
By comparison, our first house was built in 1970, and there were some major issues that I was hesitant to tackle. For example, it needed a new HVAC system, it was on its second roof, and the stucco was coming apart. The worst part was that although it had a slab foundation, it had begun to settle in some areas causing more significant issues that needed to be addressed. I suppose that is the blessing and curse of home ownership. You own something tangible, but it takes effort to maintain it, and if you neglect it for too long, it becomes more problematic the longer you hesitate.
Every house is different; some have seen very little wear and tear. Perhaps their owners were careful or lived in a region that preserved the overall structure. Others have been used and abused, or more poetically, they have “seen” a lot of life. And so on the other hand, these houses need a little more care to make them livable long-term. These structures may have settled, and these issues have taken years to become visible.
On Wednesday nights, we have been focusing on Galatians 6:1-5. Our spiritual lives are a lot like houses. Some individuals need major adjustments, and others need a little paint to smooth out the scuffs in the wall. Those that need minor repairs find it easy to “course correct” and come to Jesus. Asking these people to repent and place their faith in Jesus is non-controversial because their lives require minimal adjusting. However, those that may have seen a little more “life” will struggle to repair the cracks in their foundation. They may see their spiritual lives require a complete overhaul, and the remodeling phase is too much to handle.
Galatians 6:1-5 – “Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load.”
- Burden–βάρος báros, bar’-os—a weight that is too heavy to carry. It means to bend down under the weight.
- Load–φορτίον phortíon- a small amount of cargo, typically carried as freight on a larger ship.
As Paul is writing to the church in Galatia, he asserts that this is where a church family comes in; we come alongside our brothers and sisters and help them with their more extensive repair process. Make no mistake; we are cleansed and made new through the death and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:11). Yet, part of the repentance process is taking the log or speck out of our eyes. When you have something debilitating in your eye, help is typically required.
It is a good reminder that we all don’t have the same house. We didn’t start with the same foundation or even the same building code. Some require a bit more paint, and some need a complete renovation. As we walk in fellowship with others, we recognize that some need a little more TLC; therefore, we approach them with grace and patience. It is a reminder that some come to Christ with a lot of structural issues, and it may take years to sort out as they are continually made into the likeness of Jesus. Yet, God’s grace is sufficient, and they, too, are sanctified by the sacrifice of Jesus. However, they might be rough around the edges as they mature and grow. And so we remind ourselves that we are all in some state of repair and might need help with our maintenance issues someday.