Galatians 6:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

NIV: Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,

NASB: But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another.

CSB: Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else.

NLT: Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

KJV: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

NKJV: But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Paul has just given a warning to Christians, seemingly those who refuse to allow others to help carry their burdens or who refuse to help carry the burdens of others: If you think you are something when you are nothing, you're only lying to yourself (Galatians 6:3).

Now Paul instructs us to test ourselves against ourselves, rather than in comparison to others. In other words, we should develop the habit of looking at our work in the power of the Holy Spirit and asking, "Was this effective? Was this meaningful? Was this truly helpful? Did I reflect Christ in this?"

We should take the time to make that honest analysis, instead of merely comparing ourselves to the people around us. Then, we can truly enjoy what we see God accomplishing through us, in real humility. Paul's use of the word "boast" is not about bragging or a sinful pride in ourselves. It's about honest measurement of what is true.

He put it this way in Romans 12:3, "…I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."

Galatians 6:1–10 focuses on how those in Christ should treat each other, through the power of God's Spirit. We should restore those caught in sin with gentleness and humility, and we should help to carry each other's burdens. Having said that, Christians should be honest with ourselves about what God is doing through us. We need to take responsibility for what He has asked us to carry. Because eternal life comes from planting God's Spirit by faith in Christ, and not by works of the flesh, we must keep doing good. The harvest will show that we planted well.

Galatians 6 includes instructions for how people who are free in Christ and walking by God's Spirit, should treat each other. Christians should restore those who are caught by sin, and we should bear each other's burdens. Only those who plant the fruit of God's Spirit, by faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life. Believers should not get tired of doing good for each other! The harvest is coming. Paul concludes the letter, writing in large letters that circumcision means nothing. Only becoming a new creation through faith in Christ matters.

Galatians 5 wrapped up with a focus on what it means to be led by God's Spirit. Galatians 6 starts with describing how Spirit-led Christians serve each other by restoring those caught be sin and bearing each other's burdens. Only those who plant God's Spirit in this life, through faith in Christ, will harvest eternal life. Paul concludes the letter by writing in big letters that circumcision does not matter, only being made a new creation by faith in Christ matters.

Galatians is sometimes called “a short Romans” for its similar themes of justification and sanctification through faith. A group of Christians known as “Judaizers” were preaching a gospel of legalism, rather than grace. Paul’s main purpose in writing the letter to the Galatians was to reiterate the true nature of the gospel: we are justified (made righteous) and sanctified (made more Christlike) through our faith in Jesus Christ alone. This letter was probably written shortly before the church elders in Jerusalem issued their official refutation of the Judaizers, commonly called the Jerusalem Council.