Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (NKJV)
Today, we continue to seek to understand Paul’s words to the Galatian believers about support. Paul gives them a perspective on the financial responsibility that each believer has within the body of Christ, especially toward those who teach the word of God. Those giving “spiritual things” ought to receive of the believers “material things.” Last week we drew heavily from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 9.
Today let’s talk about verses 7-10. Paul is very straightforward in verse 7 when he says that there are principles in which one can be deceived. Sowing and reaping is one of those principles that people neglect and, in some cases, are simply deceived about.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
What does Paul mean when he says, “God is not mocked?” It is God who established the law of “sowing and reaping.” It is a law or principle that is eternal in its operation. It is a truth that cannot be reversed. Whatever you sow, you will reap.
This principle can be applied to many different things. Paul draws from the natural realm in terms of sowing and reaping. If you sow into the ground corn, you expect to reap corn. In the spiritual world, the principle is the same as verse 8 records. If you sow “good things” that is what you will reap. If I am liberal in my giving, I will experience others being liberal in my need. If I live a life of love toward others, I can expect to be loved.
Paul’s theme in this book has been the “flesh versus the Spirit.”
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Sowing to the flesh produces corruption, or you can say death and not life. Sowing to the Spirit produces eternal life. On the financial side, Paul and Barnabus are carriers of “eternal life.” They are always sowing to the Spirit in all that they do. That is in contrast to others that were still locked into the flesh through the law. Those of the law/flesh were reaping the financial increase from those who had received of the Spirit through Paul and Barnabus. That was happening in Corinth and Galatia. Both churches had challenges that came from “flesh” focused leaders. It was producing fleshly or carnal activity among the flock. They were mocking God in what they were doing and God will not be mocked. Paul is bringing correction to their carnality.
How do we relate this to what happens in today’s church communities? Today is the day of “itinerant ministries.” Those who seek places to speak, minister in their particular function, and receive from where others have labored. Many of those that have developed Media type ministries pull in thousands of dollars that go toward increasing their pond to fish in so to speak.
Today, we observe that many Fivefold Ministry type leaders mentioned in Ephesians 4 are independent ministries that are not related or joined in the body of Christ as God intended. They are choosing to be independent without any real accountability for teachings or actions.
We live in a culture that does not think “covenantal.” We live in a culture that does not take well to biblical accountability. It’s everyone for themselves in many cases. The richness of the New Covenant is rooted in relationship, family, and community where the individual is accountable for their actions within a family and community environment. Paul calls these Galatian believers, as he did with the Corinthian believers, to accountability in how they sow the seed of their material things toward true community and within the valid biblical relationships. That leads us to what Paul taught in Verses 9-10.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Paul is instructing the body of Christ, that what he is addressing is not exclusively about he and Barnabus. It is much bigger than the two of them. It is about how a believer was intended to live one’s life. What biblical community looks like in how it functions. Paul wants the saints to be encouraged in doing well, IE, giving to others liberally. Being generous, always ready to do well, whether in the giving of time, possessions, feeding, clothing, or just simply the giving of yourself in the time of need in another’s life.
Never get tired of serving others. Always be energized to be doing good works. The farmer continues to plow and sow good seed, knowing that he will reap in “due season.” We must not lose heart. Many of God’s people have not learned these principles that God is sharing. Many expect immediate returns; many give or do good works from a wrong motivation to receive acceptance, gratitude, get personal gain, etc. Doing good will always bear fruit when our heart is pure and our expectations are centered in our relationship with our heavenly Father.
Note the phrase, “If we do not lose heart.” The heart is at the center of our emotions. It seems to be a bridge between our soul and our innermost being. As we have learned in past teachings, the “spirit” of an individual is the part of our nature that is regenerated by the Holy Spirit. It was dead in trespasses and sin but has been made alive in Christ’s resurrection power. The good works of which Paul is speaking come from our regenerated spirit through our emotions. It is in our emotions that we feel compassion, a sense of urgency to help another, and gratitude for what others have given to us. We give freely of our offerings to the one bringing to us the “word of God.” Not because of necessity, but of appreciation and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Our last verse to look at today is Verse 10, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Based on the first nine verses, Paul frames his thought around “opportunity.” Are you looking for opportunities to do “good works?” Do you give from a heart of gratitude? Do you look for opportunities to be doing good works? Note, Paul says, “let us do good to all.” Yes, even to the ones that mistreat you, maybe someone is saying all many of evil about you, yes even to those.
Paul brings it home when he says, “especially to those who are of the household of faith.” One of the true blessings which I have received over the years has been to serve the body of Christ. Many times that meant to serve pastors that I knew, many of whom had a different doctrinal position on some things. I was to do good and not let doctrinal areas separate me from doing good with what the Lord had given to me as a gift for His people.
There have been times of giving money and times of defending another minister when they were falsely accused. Also, times of not tackling issues to satisfy my need to represent what I thought to be the correct viewpoint. The Lord often uses the principle of sowing and reaping to instruct us and stretch our faith in trusting our Lord for supply and resources to extend the kingdom of God.
One time, in particular, stands out in my mind. I was in a ministry meeting that was billed around praying for the sick. The ministry team was a well-known nationally recognized husband and wife team. I always struggled with how they took offerings. It felt controlled and contrived. Manipulated would be another word I could use.
I had a significant financial need for a ministry trip I was planning to go on. The Lord spoke to me to sow a financial seed into this ministry where I was attending. It was all the money that I had in my wallet. It was a substantial amount. I obeyed the Lord, and He was faithful to let that seed become the harvest that I needed to finance my trip. He took care of everything!
It is the “household of faith” because our whole life is meant to be lived by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. It is the life that we call, living the adventure.
Let us excel in doing good to all! Especially those of Christ’s house of the faithful, “the saints.”