SLIDES

The Book of Galatians 6:6-10

(Part 27)

Introduction

I am not a tree hugger or an animal activist. However, I abhor the waste and misuse of forest lands and the mistreatment of animals. I hate watching those commercials where dogs are mistreated and starved. I saw a documentary recently how elephants are beaten, and mistreated while being trained to carry people and do tricks in India.

There are several instructions in the Mosaic Law concerning the treatment and mistreatment of different kinds of animals by the Israelites. Harsh treatment of animals was not permitted. They were to be treated humanely. The reason is that animals were created by God just as man was, from the dust of the ground. Both also depend on God for sustenance. Both need air, water, and food to live.  Both man and working animals were not to work on the Sabbath. Both needed rest and to be rejuvenated for the week to come.

Animals, however, were created for man’s use. Animals were used for food and clothing and were also used for working the ground, pulling different carts and wagons, and for carrying loads

Animals in Israel used for food and for sacrifice were to be slaughtered in a certain manner so the animal would not suffer any longer than it would have to. In any case, we are going to see in a few minutes that Paul applied some Old Testament laws concerning the treatment of animals to man.

After Paul listed the deeds of the flesh and then the fruit of the Holy Spirit, he then gave several instructions for daily life to the churches of Galatia, and indirectly to us, that can only be accomplished by manifesting the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Believers are:

·      to love his neighbor as himself (5:14, 15).

·      to be led by the Spirit (5:18, 25).

·      to reckon himself crucified with Christ (5:24).

·      to avoid boasting and envy (5:26).

·      to carefully and prayerfully restore the fallen (6:1).

·  to bear the burdens of others (6:2).

·      to bear his own burden (6:5).

·      to prove himself (6:4).

1. Believers Have a Responsibility to Come to the Aid of Others. (1-10)

a. Mature Believers have a responsibility to restore those who have fallen into sin. (1)

b. Believers Have the Responsibility to Help believers with their physical and spiritual hardships. (2-5)

c. Believers have a responsibility to support those in the ministry who teach them. (6)

6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

In the same vein about believers coming to the aid of others who have sinned and those who have crushing burdens, believers are also commanded to come to the aid of those who minister to them. Those who learn from Bible teachers who provide for the spiritual needs of others should provide them with “all good things” including, but not limited to, their physical needs One responsibility of each believer is to shoulder the financial support of pastors, teachers, and missionaries. Paul here is referring to those in the ministry who do not work a secular job and must rely on individuals and churches for income to live on so they can study, teach, and share the gospel with others.  Studying in order to teach others the Word of God takes time and discipline.

There are several other verses that deal with supporting those in full-time ministry. 1 Corinthians 9:9

9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.” God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

Paul here is quoting Deuteronomy 25:4. The command not to muzzle an ox while it is treading … grain. An ox was used to Tread grain on a threshing floor to break up the grain stalks for winnowing. This law stresses kindness and fairness to the animals that helped a person earn his daily bread. In two verses that follow, Paul relates not muzzling the Ox to helping the person earn his daily bread who ministers of the gospel and those teaching other believers. You can also look at it this way. Since the theme of this section is helping those who are burdened, a teacher of the Word has a burden to teach the Word to others.

1 Corinthians 9: 11, 14

11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

Timothy also quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 in a similar context as the above.

Paul and Timothy’s use of Deuteronomy 25:4 shows that if God cares about a working ox, how much more He cares about human who are spread the Gospel and to teach the Word. As ministers share spiritual wealth with other believers, believers being taught should share material goods with him.

d. Believers who live in the flesh will reap moral depravity and those who live guided by Spirit will reap an abundant life. (7-8)

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will 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.

These verses are certainly connected to the deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. These verses certainly not talking about farming and gardening, but we see that the laws of the harvest apply just as well to the spiritual life as they do to the natural. If we sow sinful thoughts and actions, we will reap the consequences. Those who patiently and faithfully plant seeds of God’s Word in their lives will later reap blessings of wisdom, peace, and joy. In other words, those who sow to the flesh shouldn’t expect to receive the blessings of the Spirit. This is Paul’s point in Galatians 6:7–10.

Having set before his readers the ways of the flesh (5:19–21) and the ways of the Spirit (5:22–23), Paul emphasizes that both of these lifestyles will have their respective judgments or rewards. Though we may fool ourselves into thinking we can somehow escape the laws of the harvest when it comes to sowing to the flesh, God will not be mocked.

These verses have nothing to do with good works to receive eternal life. The terms eternal life in this context refers to the abundant life. Jesus said in John 10:10b.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The word abundant means extraordinary. One can choose to live an extraordinary life if one is led by the Holy Spirit or a miserable depraved life in the flesh.

There are four principles of sowing and reaping. The principles of sowing and reaping are fundamental biblical concepts that illustrate the cause-and-effect relationship between actions and their consequences. These principles is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testaments and serve as a moral and spiritual guideline for believers.

1.We reap in kind only what has been sown. If you plant watermelon seeds in the spring, don’t expect to harvest grapes in the fall. So, if you dislike watermelons, don’t plant them. If one sows the deeds of the flesh, he will reap the dees of the flesh, If one sows the fruit of the Spirit, he will reap the fruit of the Spirit.

2. We reap in a different season than the one we sow in. Farmers and Gardeners don’t plant seeds, pull up a lawn chair, and wait with a basket in hand to harvest. The seeds bear fruit in a different season. The deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit will usually be reaped in a different season that they were sown.

3. We reap more than we sow. I think gardeners would be pretty frustrated if each plant produced only one fruit bearing one seed to grow one new plant. God has created plants for fruitfulness and multiplication. One will reap more deeds of the flesh and more of the fruit of the Spirit than was sown.

4. We must let go of past harvests and focus on sowing for the future today. Not every harvest produces a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables. Some harvests are flat and disappointing; others yield bumper crops. We can’t base future returns on past harvests. If we want to reap in the future, we must be diligent to plant in the present.

e. Believers should never give up from doing good to others because our rewards will come (9)

9. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Ministering to others can be exhilarating, satisfying, and rewarding, but it can also be time consuming, exhausting, and frustrating at times.  This can include helping others, teaching, and evangelism. Sometimes people want to give up. Don’t! Rely on the Lord. We never should give up because we do not know what’s around the corner. God promised that we will reap in rewards what we sow but remember that it can come later. Part of our rewards will be received on earth while part of our rewards will be received at the Judgement Seat of Christ.

In a manufacturing town in Scotland a young lady began teaching a Sunday school class to poverty-stricken boys. The most unpromising youngster was a boy named Robert. After the first two or three Sundays he did not return. So the teacher went to look for him. Although the superintendent had given Robert some new clothes they were already worn and dirty when the teacher found him. The teacher gave him more new clothes, and he came back to Sunday School. But soon he quit again, and the teacher went out once more to find him. When she did discoverer that the second set of clothes had gone the way of the first. “I’m completely discouraged about Robert,” she told the superintendent. “I guess we must give up on him.” “Please don’t do that,” he pleaded. “I believe there is still hope. Try him one more time.” So, they gave Robert a third change of clothes, and this time he began to attend regularly. It was not long until he became a Christian, and he eventually even taught in that same Sunday school. Who was that obstinate, ragged boy who for a time seemed so unreachable? He was none other than Robert Morrison, who later became the first Protestant English missionary to China. He translated the Bible into Chinese and brought the Word of God to countless millions of Chinese people. How wonderful it was that that Sunday school teacher did not become discouraged and weary in doing good.

f. Believers should make most of their time or opportunities for doing good to others, beginning with believers. (10)

10. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Christians have a responsibility to all people to do good, when the occasions arise. When Jesus fed the 5,000, both saved and unsaved participated. So the benevolence of Christians should not be restricted, except that believers are to have the priority. As in a home, family needs are met first, then those of the neighbors.

Today we learned that Believers are:

·      to financially support his spiritual leaders (6:6).

·      to properly sow the right habits of life (6:8).

·      to not be weary in well doing (6:9).

·      to do good to all beginning with brothers and sisters in Christ. (6:10)

SELAH