Paul's encouragement to those deeming themselves "spiritual" to assume the role of "restorer" to those having fallen short of the mark (Gal. 6:1) used to trouble me somewhat. Many of those I had known who evaluated themselves as "spiritual" (and in keeping with such often wished to be so recognized by others) were pains in the - well, neck.
The issue itself seemed all the more enigmatic, given the fact that Paul had touched on the issue of self evaluation elsewhere, including his rather remarkable comment to the Corinthian church concerning himself: "It is of no importance to me how you or any other human court may judge me: I will not even be the judge of my own self. It is true that my conscience does not reproach me, but that is not enouch to justify me; it is the Lord who is my judge" (I Cor. 4:3,4 NJB). Paul would, however, lend clarification to the matter at various times and in various ways - one of the more notable instances being found in the context of Galatians 6:1 itself.
The term "spiritual" simply means, "pertaining to spirit or inner quality of being." In the biblical sense this is to find manifestation in one's becoming "joined unto the Lord" in a unity of spirit (I Cor. 6:17). Immediately preceding his commissioning of the "spiritual" members in the Galatian church, Paul had explained that the believer's life is to evidence the outliving of the indwelling Christ by agency of the Holy Spirit. Hence, the "fruit of the Spirit" as demonstrated in "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control" (Gal. 2:20: 5:22,23). Such in itself becomes an effective antidote to the arrogance of spiritual pride and self promotion.
Such, also, is the "spirituality" to which the apostle makes reference in Galatians 6:1 - the absence of which tends to self deception in one's thinking himself to be "something" when, in actuality, he is "nothing" (Gal. 6:3).
Burl Ratzsch
