Galatians 6:4—“But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
It is easy to measure our spiritual lives against others. We may feel satisfied when we notice their weaknesses, or discouraged when their gifts seem greater than ours. Paul instead directs us to examine our own work.
The word “prove” means to test or examine. In the preceding verses, Paul warns against the self-deception of thinking too highly of ourselves (v. 3). His remedy is honest self-examination. Rather than using another person’s failure to make ourselves look better, we must consider our own conduct before God.
The standard for this examination is not our own opinion but God’s revealed will. Are we walking in the Spirit? Are we showing His fruit in our relationships? Are we helping to restore the fallen and bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 5:22–23; 6:1–2)?
Paul says that such a person may have “rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another”. This is not an invitation to boast of personal merit. It describes the quiet satisfaction of a life honestly examined, rather than the false confidence that comes from comparing ourselves with others. Any good found in us is the fruit of God’s grace, for without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Let us, then, bring our thoughts, words, and actions before the Lord. Where His Word reveals sin, let us repent. Where His grace has brought about obedience, let us give Him thanks. Freed from prideful comparison, we can serve others with humility and joy.
