Doing good, 6:7-10.
Sometimes I like to
connect v7-8 on “sowing and reaping” with the sharing of good things with those
who teach the word. But really, v7-8
stand on their own. And so does v9 on
not being weary in well doing. And then
v10 serves to bring this section of Galatians to a conclusion.
The truth of “sowing
and reaping” (“the law of the harvest”) applies to any service of love. Service done in the flesh will reap
corruption. That’s the same as saying, the wages of sin is death. Go
back to “the works of the flesh” (5:19-21).
Each of those works is part of the culture of death that characterizes
the world that is ruled by Satan. On the
other hand, review the “fruit of the Spirit” (5:22-23). Those things are the “everlasting life” that
is ours by faith in Christ. You are not
going to “mock” God, making Him look foolish by satisfying your soul through
the flesh. The principle is universal:
if you sow to the flesh you reap corruption; if you sow to the Spirit you reap
life everlasting. God will always have
the final say. In this context, the “law
of the harvest” is meant to be an encouragement to the command, through love serve one another (5:13).
Gal. 6:9 builds on the “law of the harvest,”
protecting us from a couple of hindrances to the realization of a good harvest
in ministry.
· Weariness: to be utterly spiritless, wearied
out, exhausted (Thayer’s lexicon). The NKJV, in four of six occurrences,
translates it “lost heart.” For example,
… as we have received mercy, we do
not lose heart. … we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (2 Cor. 4:1,16).
· Fainting: to be set free, having one’s
strength relaxed so as to grow weary (Thayers).
It might be the result of being hungry, as with the 5000 and the 4000
(Mt. 9:36; 15:32). Heb. 12:3 tells us: For consider Him who endured such hostility
from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in
your souls.
Paul gives a strong
word about this in our passage. But he
is not calling us to the flesh, to do the best we can. We can be assured that as we walk in the
Spirit, the Spirit will strengthen us for the “long haul.” And He will focus us on our Savior, which is
always what the Spirit does.
An impactful story in my life is that of J. O.
Frazer, missionary to the Lisu people of China and Burma in the early 1900’s. He was several years preaching before he began
to reap a harvest of souls. What
characterized his life during those days of waiting? It was a strong devotion to prayer while he
continued to preach. Here is one of his
quotes: If the work seems to fail, then pray; if the church services fall
flat, then pray still more; if months slip by with little or no result, then
pray still more and get others to help you.
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