If You Think You Are Something

[Mr. M]

Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

How are we to comprehend and overcome this self-deception? In the preceding verse, Paul states:

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in

a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

The context of the discussion therefore, is effective fellowship among the saints.

What then does “thinking yourself something, when you are nothing” imply,

and how does this hinder fellowship?

I would offer to open the discussion that if I think I am “something”, this would hinder

my willingness to openly confess my weaknesses, so as to not discredit my “something”.

This hinders both my own healing and growth, and also the ability of the Holy Spirit

to move in the Light of Truth, when we try to hide "something" in the darkness.

Edited December 23, 2022 by Mr. M
amend title

[Mr. M]

Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work,

and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

[Mr. M]

On 12/22/2022 at 6:53 AM, Mr. M said:

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load.

After sharing burdens to fulfill the Law of Christ, Paul now states that

each of us must bear their own load.

This word [G5413, phortion] is also translated burden,

but assigned load here to indicate a different Greek word was used in verse 2.

The load each must bear is described here:

Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden (phortion) is light.

The only way to bear our own load by the Will of the Father,

is to be yoked to Son, and is always beyond our own ability.

[Mr. M]

James 1:

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue

but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: 

to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, 

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

[other one]

On 12/22/2022 at 7:53 AM, Mr. M said:

when he is nothing,

huge part of the subject...

[Mr. M]

On 12/22/2022 at 6:53 AM, Mr. M said:

I would offer to open the discussion that if I think I am “something”, this would hinder

my willingness to openly confess my weaknesses, so as to not discredit my “something”.

This hinders both my own healing and growth, and also the ability of the Holy Spirit

to move in the Light of Truth, when we try to hide "something" in the darkness.

Here is another thread from back when I first started that addresses our efforts to perfect fellowship for edification. In blatant self-justification, I would point out that I made every effort to not only present a passage of scripture for discussion, in this case Galatians 6:1-5, but also offered a personal viewpoint on the topic. @AdHoc, @missmuffet. Only @other one responded, while there also was a reaction from @Debp. Is it that hard to acknowledge our need to become nothing? This is very important, and as Paul wrote, we must be able to admonish one other for edification and correction. I have taken my licks here and tried to respond positively and improve. Let's all keep working towards our perfection as we maintain our purpose of heart towards Christ, who is our life.

Proverbs 12:9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant,

than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

The Lord came to the earth as a servant, and so we must be.

How is it that we all can have a servant? We have each other! 

This is how we have our bread.

Yours, striving to be a more humble servant. 

M

[AnOrangeCat]

6 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Here is another thread from back when I first started that addresses our efforts to perfect fellowship for edification.

I appreciate that the matter of fellowship has been popping up somewhat often lately. To share a bit of personal history, I was sole caregiver for my grandmother for a time in my life. In her dementia she became extremely difficult and entitled. I had dropped out of the local church entirely, partially because of the demands of what I was doing, partially because the attitudes she took on made it very difficult to be in a social environment with her, partially giving in to my own desire to avoid people as much as possible, and partially because old faces who kept me at my favored church had moved on.

In retrospect it was a mistake. I spent years trying to shoulder her self destructive and sometimes abusive behaviors on my own. I have little doubt that had I stayed in contact with fellow believers in my area that time in my life would have turned out quite differently. And that after she passed when I went back to the church instead of people telling me a lot of "I'm so sorry, God bless you." but then doing nothing to help I would have received the aid I needed.

This was my "The love of many shall wax cold" experience. It was very unfortunate but despite it being something I'm quite critical on to this day I can't entirely blame people, either. Why? Lack of fellowship. I was an utter stranger to them, and probably one who looked exactly like the disaster I felt like at the time. Regardless of my mistakes and the very troubled period that came after I landed well by the grace of God, and in such a way that it solidified my faith and allowed me to mend fences with my estranged mother. It was a Romans 8:28 period for me: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Beyond that, at least for me, I find that real fellowship with someone provides a buffer that encourages positivity and restrains negativity and knee jerk reactions when disagreements and conflict arise. I suspect that if believers got more genuine fellowship with each other and came to love and respect each other as God would have us do it'd solve a lot of conflict issues in the church.

[Mr. M]

32 minutes ago, AnOrangeCat said:

It was a Romans 8:28 period for me: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Incredible how the Lord uses our prodigal nature to discipline and make us humble enough to get some use out of us. Every time I hear someone's testimony, so much of scripture is confirmed! At 68, I admit to thinking a lot about the dementia that is plaguing our society. I am so thankful that your experiences have made you a man of God who is equipped to impart wisdom in an area that will become a field to harvest with your truth that is in you.

Nothing seems to be getting easier, but our victories will be sweeter having endured to the end.

We can rejoice in the Lord and proclaim, as Paul:

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

I appreciate you sharing this, and want you to know for certain that I have been edified.

[AdHoc]

8 hours ago, Mr. M said:

Here is another thread from back when I first started that addresses our efforts to perfect fellowship for edification. In blatant self-justification, I would point out that I made every effort to not only present a passage of scripture for discussion, in this case Galatians 6:1-5, but also offered a personal viewpoint on the topic. @AdHoc, @missmuffet. Only @other one responded, while there also was a reaction from @Debp. Is it that hard to acknowledge our need to become nothing? This is very important, and as Paul wrote, we must be able to admonish one other for edification and correction. I have taken my licks here and tried to respond positively and improve. Let's all keep working towards our perfection as we maintain our purpose of heart towards Christ, who is our life.

Proverbs 12:9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant,

than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

The Lord came to the earth as a servant, and so we must be.

How is it that we all can have a servant? We have each other! 

This is how we have our bread.

Yours, striving to be a more humble servant. 

M

I did see and read your posting of a year ago. I would like to advance the theory (as I am not trained) that God will see to it that we are humbled. According to 1st Corinthians 10 Israel is a pattern for us. Here is Deuteronomy 8:1-5

1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

I understand that a man has to be very brutal to actually humble himself voluntarily. Most of us love ourselves too much to go to the breaking point. I judge myself so. I have had some humbling experiences at the hand of the Lord and they have been effective without destroying me. On the other hand I am first to agree that a man who knows Christ must be able to take a retiring position without false humility. It is like asceticism. Keep the body in check without lashing it. If you need a lashing - it will come.

[AdHoc]

1 hour ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I appreciate that the matter of fellowship has been popping up somewhat often lately. To share a bit of personal history, I was sole caregiver for my grandmother for a time in my life. In her dementia she became extremely difficult and entitled. I had dropped out of the local church entirely, partially because of the demands of what I was doing, partially because the attitudes she took on made it very difficult to be in a social environment with her, partially giving in to my own desire to avoid people as much as possible, and partially because old faces who kept me at my favored church had moved on.

In retrospect it was a mistake. I spent years trying to shoulder her self destructive and sometimes abusive behaviors on my own. I have little doubt that had I stayed in contact with fellow believers in my area that time in my life would have turned out quite differently. And that after she passed when I went back to the church instead of people telling me a lot of "I'm so sorry, God bless you." but then doing nothing to help I would have received the aid I needed.

This was my "The love of many shall wax cold" experience. It was very unfortunate but despite it being something I'm quite critical on to this day I can't entirely blame people, either. Why? Lack of fellowship. I was an utter stranger to them, and probably one who looked exactly like the disaster I felt like at the time. Regardless of my mistakes and the very troubled period that came after I landed well by the grace of God, and in such a way that it solidified my faith and allowed me to mend fences with my estranged mother. It was a Romans 8:28 period for me: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Beyond that, at least for me, I find that real fellowship with someone provides a buffer that encourages positivity and restrains negativity and knee jerk reactions when disagreements and conflict arise. I suspect that if believers got more genuine fellowship with each other and came to love and respect each other as God would have us do it'd solve a lot of conflict issues in the church.

I can somewhat identify with you. From about the 14th year of passionately studying the Bible, i started to get ostracized. It's a simple matter. Many Church leaders earn their money and/or fame from their congregation and somebody who knows too much is regarded as a threat - not an asset. I do not complain for my Lord said this would happen and it did. But I do feel the distance and restrictions in fellowship. According to Ephesians 4:1-15 we need the Body to survive and grow. Any restriction in pure fellowship hinders. One thing I know is that in both Matthew 7 and 25 the Lord said to some of His followers; "I don't know you". I know the Greek word is different but the essence of the Lord's words in both cases is; "I walked a road and you didn't walk it with me."

Let us be found lonely now, but when He comes maybe we can "enter His JOY".