Galatians 6:1-4: How To Mend Damage To A Relationship

This is a devotion for people who are taking Financial Peace University at the church. The lesson in FPU dealt with how people have different personalities when it comes to dealing with money. These differences can lead to conflict.

Galatians 6:1 (NASU) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; [each one] looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

3 For if anyone thinks 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 in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

Lesson 2 is about relationships, preparing families for Week 3 and being honest about where your family is financially. It may create some hard feelings, but the Bible tells us how to handle those difficult moments.

Galatians 6:1-4 tells us how we are to handle the relationship after the realization that mistakes have led to some bad results. There are five things to keep in mind as you start working through issues.

1. Check where you are at spiritually before launching into a fight. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you where you are failing and broken before you examine your spouse's situation. Read Luke 6:41-42.
2. Restore with gentleness not anger. Seek to build up your spouse, not tear them down. 
3. Bear the burdens of your spouse. Sometimes, you just have to suck it up and put up with their failings. Instead of heaping guilt on them, help them by carrying some of that burden for them.
4. Be humble. We all have our flaws. Be aware of your own failings.
5. Own up to your own sins when it comes to finances. Your family didn't get in your current circumstances through one person, and you won't change things alone either.

Please note that these verses do not call on you to ignore the financial issues facing your family. The goal is to tackle the hard questions facing your family's finances, but to do so with husband and wife working side-by-side, not as adversaries.