There are so many reasons I often turn to the New Living Translation for my daily reading and even study. I find it is a great translation that both stays true to the text while also making things easy to understand. In fact, I often say it translates the original language and comes to the same wording as a pastor uses to explain some other popular translations. But by far the biggest reason I turn to the NLT is because of how direct and plain it makes so many verses. Causing you to stop in your tracks and really think. Like the verse in Galatians when Paul says that you are not that important.
Galatians 6:3 (ESV)
3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:3 (NLT)
3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
That is a verse that carries a lot of weight. It is speaking directly to every one of us. Really, it is a reminder that we all need from time to time. Of course, few would admit that they feel or believe they are too important to help another. But too often we live like that is just what we believe. Passing those in need because we really need to get where we are going. Always leading the conversation in our direction because our week was so much harder than their’s could have been. Not meeting the financial needs of others because I worked hard for my money and could use it for these other things.
That list could keep going on forever exposing the ways we often fool ourselves into thinking we are better than others. While scripture is there trying to tell us that we are not that important. The Bible constantly tells its readers to be humble and care for others. The verse right before the one above says we are to share each other’s burdens and that by doing so we obey the law of Christ. Just a few verses later Paul tells us that we should seize every opportunity to do good to others.
Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 (ESV)
10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
It will be those who do not see themselves as more important than others that will gain entry into Heaven. In this very same passage, Paul warns people to not be mislead. Those who only ever care for their own needs are only working towards death. While those who live to please the spirit and care for the needs of others are working towards eternal life. At just the right time they will receive blessings.
Galatians 6:6–9 (ESV)
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Not one person is better than another in the eyes of our Lord. All have fallen short of His glory and all are in desperate need of the salvation He offers. There will be times in life when we are in a position to meet the needs of another. In whatever way that may be. Yet at other times we are going to be the ones in need and those who needed our help will be offering us a hand. In Christ, we are all one and not one of us is too important to help another.
Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I hope the next time you encounter someone in need, the words of Paul ring clear in your head. Reminding you that “you are not that important”. I pray that God will make that the case in my life. So I will look past my own needs and wants to focus on those of someone else. Filling the call placed on the life of every Christian to imitate Christ by putting the needs of other first.
Ephesians 5:1–2 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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