Introduction:

1. Living as God demands of us means swimming against the currents of culture.

2. This can discourage us, especially coming from both outside and inside the church.

3. Even if we do not feel like it, we have to do it anyway (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13).

Discussion:

I. Restore the Erring Anyway (6:1)

A. This may be the most difficult, as it often brings blowback (Galatians 4:16; 1:10; 2 Timothy 3:12).

B. Many who do not mistreat us ignore the call (Isaiah 6:9-10; Jeremiah 6:16; 7:27; Ezekiel 3:4-11).

C. We must do it anyway, knowing we are responsible for the effort, not the results (Isaiah 55:10-11; 1 Corinthians 3:6).

II. Bear Other’s Burdens Anyway (6:2-5)

A. Everyone has burdens to bear, but we are to share those with one another.

B. Won’t lifting some of your burdens increase my own? Of course, but I must do it anyway.

C. Oddly, getting involved in other’s struggles often lessens the weight of our own.

III. Do Good to All Anyway (6:6-10)

A. This one would be easy if we could be selective concerning who to do good to.

B. There is no wiggle room here as He even demands we do good to our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48; Romans 12:17-21).

C. Even though it runs counter to our base instincts, we must do it anyway.

1. We cannot control how others respond to the gospel and our efforts to disperse it.

2. We cannot control how often or to what degree others may need our help.

3. We cannot control who enters our sphere needing to receive our goodness.

4. All we can control is our willingness to do it anyway, even when it is costly to us in various ways (cf. 2 Samuel 24:24).