Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Galatians 6:4

"But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor." — Galatians 6:4 (ASV)

The second error that might keep believers from bearing the burdens of another Christian is to be always comparing themselves and their own works with others. This can be harmful both in a positive sense (“I am doing better than they are”) and in a negative sense (“I am unable to do anything; everyone else is much better”). To counter both these forms of the error, Paul suggests that each believer has a task from the Lord and is responsible only to the Lord for doing it. To use others as a norm for one’s activities is a kind of escape. When Christians have their eyes on God rather than on other Christians, then in their own eyes they will at best be unprofitable servants and God himself will receive glory (2 Corinthians 10:12–18).