A man reaps what he
sows
Galatians 6:1-18
Key verse 6:7-8
There lived a man in Sydney, Australia. Before he knew
Jesus, he lived the wild life of a sailor and had become addicted to gambling.
Then, in 1937, he met Jesus and his life was transformed. In gratitude, he
pledged to serve God, saying, “Each day I will preach to 10 people.” He went to
Georgia Street in Sydney every day at the same time. He preached to those
passing by, asking them, “Excuse me, sir, if you
died today, where would you spend
eternity? Heaven or hell?” He did this for 28 years until he developed Parkinson’s
disease. But what really disappointed him was that his labor was unfruitful. He
did not get a single person to believe
in Jesus through his preaching. His labor for 28 years seemed to have been in vain. As he got older, he became
depressed and his health deteriorated. Forty years passed from the time he had preached
the gospel until he died, still without
any fruit.
Some missionaries fail to convert even one person after many years of labor. Some church
members have served their ministry faithfully but they are not recognized. Some
have served and loved others but people do not appreciate it. Have you also
suffered unfruitfulness like them? What is God’s answer to us? Here in this
passage we can find it. I pray that, through today’s message, God may help us
to see Jesus on the cross and encourage
us to serve his will continually.
In the previous passage, we learned that since Jesus has set us free, we should use our freedom, not for the desires
of the flesh, but for serving one another in love. We should live by the Spirit,
not the desires of the flesh. Today’s passage is the continuation of the
previous passage, particularly regarding how to love one another practically.
The law of Christ
Though we believe in Jesus, we still commit sins. Some
believers stumble into sin continually or cause big troubles in the church. What
if someone commits sexual immorality? What if someone gives trouble to others
continually? What if someone is legalistic and judges others? What if someone
is so greedy and selfish that he hampers the work of God? Actually, there is
always such a person in any church. How do believers have to deal with such a person?
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is
caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that
person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted”.
We should not judge or punish such a person. But we should
not ignore the person’s sin, either. Those who live by the Spirit should restore
that person. The word ‘restore’ is also used for mending nets or as a medical term for fixing
dislocated limbs. We should let the person know the truth and help him repent
before God. However, we should do this in the spirit of gentleness as a doctor
treats his patients. Have you ever seen any doctor who treats his patient with
anger?
It was about 15 years ago. I went to see a dentist for the
first time in my life. I needed a lot of encouragement to see a dentist because
my teeth were so dirty with tartar. So I confessed to the dentist that my teeth
were horribly dirty. But the dentist said, “No problem. I can clean them for
you. That is my job. By the way, you have good teeth.” I was so relieved and thankful.
Since then, I have seen him regularly and taken care of my teeth well. What if
the dentist had said, “You are so foolish and lazy. How come you let your teeth
get so dirty? I can’t believe this.” Then, I would not have seen him again.
As the dentist did, we should restore our brothers and
sisters who are caught in sin, without
feelings of resentment or thoughts of punishment. Then the person can be
rectified, healed, and strengthened again to follow the Spirit. In verse 2,
Paul teaches us what is involved in restoring a person.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will
fulfill the law of Christ”.
Here “burden” refers to troubles caused by sin. To restore someone,
we need spiritual discernment and truth so that we can teach him what to do and
how to do it. However, to restore someone we should share his burden as well by
hearing him with patience and being with him. While doing so, we can understand
him better and sympathize with him. In that way, we can carry his burden. Paul says
that this is one way to fulfill the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ?
The law of Christ is opposite to the Law of Moses, which demands
us to do things but never tolerates our failures. The law of Christ, however,
is bearing someone’s sins, which demands sacrifice. How did Jesus bear our
burden of sin? Gal 3:13 says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by
becoming a curse for us on the cross. He carried our burdens by giving himself on
the cross. He suffered to be with us. He died to pay for all our sins. In other
words, the law of Christ is love – but very costly love.
So, when we say we should bear each other’s burden, it
always involves our sacrifice and pain. We love others, not with lips, but with
sacrifice and actual help. It is painful and costly, but that is what Jesus did
for you and me, and that is what he wants us to do.
Paul was so upset about the Galatians who were quickly
deserting the gospel, in spite of his
labor for them. He said to them, “You foolish Galatians!” But soon in 4:19, he
said, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth
until Christ is formed in you.” His purpose is to somehow restore them in Jesus,
but not to judge them. And for that he is willing to bear the pains of
childbirth for them again.
Wherever I have worked, there was always one person who
troubled me. This is also true in the church. There is always one person who
troubles you or whom you do not want to associate with. You may think that you
would be happy without such a person. But the truth is that the person also may
think that he would be happy without you. So, God says to us, “Bear each
other’s burden.” If we do so, we will fulfill the law of Christ. It is not
easy, but the cross of Jesus compels us to do so. The love of Christ encourages
us to bear even the burden of our adversary. Not only one time but again and
again until the person is restored.
However, we should watch ourselves when helping others.
Otherwise, we will be tempted and fall into a pitfall.
“If anyone thinks they are
something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each
one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves
alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for
each one should carry their own load”.
Here the word “deceive” means to become the victim of one’s
own confused mindset that is detached from reality. Our reality is that we are all
weak and sinful until we enter the kingdom of God. So, in 5:26, Paul said that we
should not be conceited. If we think we are somebody and try to help others in
that spirit, we do not have the law of Christ. We help others not because we
are perfect or better than them. We always should examine our own actions to
see whether we too are doing the same or not. How can we help others while we
are doing the same? If so, they would say, “You are not my boss. Stay out of my
business. Mind your own business!” Even if we are OK in our own right, we should
not compare ourselves with others as if we were righteous or better. If so, we
are deceiving ourselves and we do not have the law of Christ in us.
Each one should carry his, or her, own load. The load is
something that no one can help with and that each one should carry by himself before
God. For example, delivering a Sunday message is my load that I have to carry
before God. But what if I think I am mature because I deliver a Sunday message?
Nonsense! This is God’s grace. It shouldn’t be my pride over others.
“Nevertheless, the one who receives
instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor”.
This does not mean that we have to give payment to our Bible
teachers for their teachings. In those days, many who instructed others in the
word needed financial support because they engaged in preaching fulltime. So,
the saints should be obligated to share good things with their teacher to
support his living. By the way, this should be done in the spirit of love – the
law of Christ.
So far, Paul has talked about how to practically serve one
another in the spirit of the law of Christ. This involves sacrifice and should
be motivated by the love of Christ on the cross.
A man reaps what he
sows
“Do not be deceived: God cannot
be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”.
The word “deceived” here means to mislead, go astray or to deviate
from the correct path due to sin. Some people may think that they can enter the
kingdom of God, still gratifying their desires of the flesh. Some pretend to
love others though they do not, thinking they will be rewarded. But the truth
is that a man reaps what he sows. This is an unchangeable universal truth. Have
you ever reaped anything that you did not sow? Can you get apples or bananas from
the oak tree? Can you get grapes or mangos from the thorns? No! You reap exactly
what you sow. If you plant a good tree, you will reap good fruit. If you plant
a bad seed, you will reap bad fruit. You will reap what you sow. Don’t be
mistaken about that.
One day, my wife found some plants growing in our backyard.
As it grew, it looked like some kind of melon. We wondered what it was and how
come it grew there, though we had not planted any kind of melon seed. Then,
about two weeks ago, we found it was a Korean yellow melon. Then my wife
realized that last year she had dumped some leftover yellow melon there. It was
not necessarily planting, but she had sowed
the seed and it grew and produced fruit. We will reap what we sow, whether it
is intentional or not.
Likewise, if you sow for your flesh, intentionally or not,
you will bear bad fruit and suffer. If you sow to please the Sprit, however,
you will bear good fruit.
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the
flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the
Spirit will reap eternal life”.
As we learned in 5:19-23, the acts to please the flesh are
sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy;
drunkenness, and the like. Those who do such things have nothing to do
with the kingdom of God, no matter who they are. They will face God’s judgment.
You may be able to deceive people. You can pretend that you
are a good Christian. But you cannot deceive your fruit. God cannot be mocked.
God gives you back exactly what you sow; therefore, we should be careful what we
sow.
What will be given to the one who sows to please the Spirit
then? As said in 5:22, the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Eventually, he will reap
eternal life. This is guaranteed to those who live by the Spirit. So, what
should we do?
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for
at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”.
‘Doing good’ here refers to sowing to please the Spirit and
serving one another in the Spirit of Christ’s love. However, doing good is not
always easy or pleasant. It demands cost and labor. Sometimes, we get weary and
are demotivated to do good continually. Sometimes, we want to give up,
especially when we face difficulties, do not see fruit, or when our labor is
not appreciated. Yet, you should not give up, because the due time for you will
come for sure and you will reap a harvest.
One night in a Baptist church in England, Pastor Francis
Dixon asked one man to share his testimony. He said, “This is how I was saved.
I was in the Royal Navy. I was walking down George Street in Sydney, Australia
and out of nowhere a gentleman came to me and said, ‘Excuse me, sir, if you
were to die today, where would you spend eternity?’ I had never been confronted
with that question. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I got back to England and
met someone who took me to a mission and that’s where I became a Christian.” And,
later in the same church, one of the visitors shared his testimony that he got
saved through a man in Sydney. More amazingly, the Baptist pastor heard similar
testimonies from many people while he traveled to preach in the Caribbean, USA,
Perth, and India. They all happened to hear the gospel from the same man in Sydney
and later came to believe in Jesus. Some of them became pastors and missionaries.
The Baptist pastor was very puzzled and decided to find the man in Sydney that these
people spoke about. Finally, he found a very old man living in a humble little
house. And he was the man I mentioned at the beginning of this message. His
name was Frank Jenner. The pastor shared with Frank what he heard from so many
people over the world. For 40 years, Frank thought his labor was in vain, but
actually he was so fruitful, which he did not know. Then this old man began to
cry in joy and gratitude. By the way, about 100, 000 people actually heard his
preaching at Georgia Street in Sydney. When Frank Jenner did not give up doing
good and worked tirelessly, God gave him amazing fruit. Two weeks later, he
went to the Lord victoriously. Ps 126:5 reads, “Those who sow with tears will
reap with songs of joy.”
So, do not give up. You will reap a harvest because you love
Jesus and so serve people. Sometimes, you may see some unexpected fruit, like
the yellow melon my wife sowed accidently. Even if you do not see your fruit
now, you should not give up because eventually, when Jesus comes, he will
recognize your labor for him and reward you. When Jesus comes again, he will
say to us, “Well done, good and faith servant.”
“Therefore, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the
family of believers”.
Let’s do good continually to everyone, especially to our
family members, our coworkers, our Bible students, and our neighbors. If you
continue to do good, God will bear fruit for you without fail. Continue to pray
for those who are in need and provide for them, whether they appreciate or not,
whether you can see fruit now or not, and whether you get weary or not. Let’s
sow the seed of the gospel diligently on campus this fall. Do not expect
immediate fruit. But do not be surprised when you see unexpected fruit, like
the yellow melon. Love God continually and serve others continually in the
spirit of the law of Christ. That is why Jesus Christ saves and calls you and
me.
Paul’s final
exhortation and conclusion
Paul concludes his letter by saying he is writing in large
letters by his hands. He means that he himself writes this letter, so what he
has said so far is genuine and true.
“Those who want to impress people by
means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The
only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of
Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the
law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your
circumcision in the flesh”.
This shows that the Judaizers wanted to take pride in the
flesh. They boasted in their circumcision of the flesh, whereby they thought
that they were part of true Israel. But
what is Paul’s pride?
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I
to the world. Neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation”.
Here the world refers to the world that depends on the flesh.
Paul himself used to be one of those who boasted in their flesh like the Judaizers.
He had boasted in his circumcision, his being a Hebrew of Hebrews, his being a
Pharisee, his zeal for the Lord, and his impeccable righteousness (Phil 3:4-6).
But when he stood before the cross of Jesus Christ, all his human
pride in the flesh fell apart and became trash. The world was not appealing to
him anymore. It was of no value and no power to save people. Actually, it was
dead to him. He had no more desire for the world. And the world had no more
influence or power over him. Now only Jesus Christ is everything he has. His
only boast is the cross of Jesus Christ.
Whether someone is circumcised or not is a matter of the
flesh. So, it has no value to be talked about anymore. How much we have or don’t
have does not count. How much we know
does not count. How good we are in the world does not count. What you wear, eat,
ride, and work for does not count. What really counts is whether you are a new
creation in Jesus Christ or not. Paul describes the new creation like this in
2:19-20:
“For through the law I died to the
law so that I might live for God. I have been
crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in
me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me”.
His ego no longer lived in him because his ego and his sins died
on the cross together with Jesus. Now Jesus lived in him and had become his
Lord. Jesus Christ, not Paul himself, controlled
his life and led him. Paul was a new creation in Jesus Christ. Paul was so
confident of this that he did not stop preaching the cross of Jesus Christ,
despite persecution. He had the scars that resulted from his being
persecuted. (5:11; 2 Cor. 11:23–27) But these were rather an honor and glory to
him. So, Paul called the scars the
marks of Jesus on his body. Paul
blessed those who walk by this rule like himself and called them the Israel of
God. (3:7-9; Rom 9:8) “Take pride in the cross of Jesus Christ” is the message that
Paul eventually wanted to give to the Galatians.
Now, what do you boast about? Where do you put your pride: in
your flesh or in the cross of Jesus Christ? The cross of Jesus Christ is the
power of God and the love of God. We have nothing but the cross of Jesus
Christ. Why then do you try to boast in something else? Why are you ashamed of
the cross of Jesus Christ, as if it were inferior to the world? Why do you take
it as a secondary thing? Why do you put it aside? As for me, I put my pride in
the cross of Jesus Christ. I pray that I may proudly live in the cross of Jesus
Christ my Lord and boldly preach it this fall. I also pray that we all continue
to do good, preaching and serving and loving, so that God may bless us to be fruitful
and victorious. Amen!
By David Yun
No comments:
Post a Comment