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giving, sowing, reaping, and eternal life Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Galatians 6:6-10 May 3rd, 2009
Martin Luther on this passage (from his Galatians Commentary): These passages are all meant to benefit us ministers. I must say I do not find much pleasure in explaining these verses. I am made to appear as if I am speaking for my own benefit. If a minister preaches on money he is likely to be accused of covetousness. Still people must be told these things that they may know their duty over against their pastors. Our Savior says: "Eating and drinking such things as they give; for the laborer is worthy of his hire." (Luke 10:7.) And Paul says elsewhere: "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple?" and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (I Cor. 9:13, 14.)
INTRODUCTION There are some things so important, that if you neglect them you will pay dearly.
Food, drink, sleep, work, play (physical things)
Communication, conflict resolution, time, love, affection and intimacy (relationship things)
If sow the seed of neglect, the harvest that you will reap will be severe.
If you sow to anything of these things as an ultimate thing (idol or god) – they will come back at you with great violence – food, work, relationship.
Only one thing that we must sow to or invest in that is the ultimate thing – GOD.
Therefore we need God’s Word. We need God’s Word through teachers.
Let’s read the text.
Here is what I think is the main point (the burden of the text – the intent that God had in inspiring Paul to write):
Partner in the Ministry of the Word through giving and serving… …As a way of sowing to the Spirit for eternal life… …While patiently trusting in the Lord of the Harvest.
1. Partner in the Ministry of the Word through Giving and Serving
(6) One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
Paul is concerned that the church supports the pastors and teachers.
§ “One who is taught” – this assumes that disciples/Christians are to be under teaching See Acts 2:42 – they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching
1 Tim 4:13 – Timothy (pastor), devote yourself to teaching
2 John 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
One of the great gifts to the church is the pastor-teacher -- Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
§ “Must share all good things with the one who teaches” (share=partner with or fellowship with)
1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (18) For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."
1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? (14) In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Partner in the ministry of the Word through giving and serving – “all good things” That which advances the Word – the Gospel ministry.
In the OT – they gave at least 10 percent and they gave of their first fruits.
Partner in the ministry of the Word through giving and serving… 2. As a Way of Sowing to the Spirit for Eternal Life
(7) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he 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.
Here we see that we don’t give only for the good of those who teach us the Word, but we give for our own good. Verses 7-9 are universal principles (or a proverb) but Paul intends to apply it specifically to the giving or providing for ministers or teachers of the Word. (1. Because of the return to giving in verse 10, 2. The use of sowing and reaping – see 2 Cor.9. and 3. the life giving nature of the Word to the Spirit.).
§ “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked…” You can not turn your nose up on God and get away with it. You can think that He is not listening or paying attention but don’t be fooled.
§ “For whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Here we have a proverb that can be applied to much more than this situation. What you sow
If you sow an apple seed, you will get an apple true. If you sow to sin, you will get paid back what sin brings.
§ “The one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption…” You invest in yourself alone or primarily, you will only get that which is fleshly and that is not enough.
Those who neglect giving and investing in the ministry of the Word are sowing to his own flesh.
This principle can also apply to our energy, time, mind, kids, etc.
§ “The one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Paul wants us to look at our giving as a means of sowing to the Spirit. I think this speaks to our intention and motivation. We are to give with a desire to have the Word of God and the life found in the Gospel our heart.
Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Where a person puts his treasure (money, time, energy, love) there will his heart follow.
We are naturally inclined with bad hearts and so our treasures are naturally oriented to the flesh.
Randy Alcorn writes: “My heart always goes where I put God’s money.”
Matthew 6:19-24 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (22) "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, (23) but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (24) "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
The universal principle should cause us to apply this beyond money – time, thought life, etc.
Partner in the ministry of the Word through giving and serving as a way of sowing to the Spirit for eternal life…
3. While Patiently Trusting in the Lord of the Harvest
(9) And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (10) So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
The Lord offers great promises to those who obey Him and sow to the Spirit.
However the promises are given to those who with faith and patience inherit the promises (Heb 6:12).
Farmers don’t plant a seed and get frustrated when they don’t see anything in one week.
Farmers who plant good see in good ground never say – “I lost my seed.” Instead, they wait in faith.
Paul knows it will be hard and he exhorts them to be patient – “don’t be weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap…”
God is not mocked and God rewards those who obey Him by faith.
CONCLUSION
Words of Conviction – take warning – your sowing to the flesh will destroy you.
Words of Hope – be hopeful – the Lord is merciful and gracious.
Partner with us in the Word. Put yourself under the Word. Give to the ministry of the Word. Give with a prayerful attitude that longs to reap from the Spirit of God. Give with patience – waiting upon the Lord of the Harvest.
We can’t apart from the work of God. We can’t sow to the Spirit by ourselves.
Jesus sowed to the Spirit and gave His life bearing the fruit of us!
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