Let him who is taught
the word share
in all good things
with him who teaches.
Do not be deceived,
God is not mocked;
for whatever a man
sows that he
will also reap. 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. And let us not grow weary
while doing good, for
in due season we shall
reap if we do not
lose heart.
Therefore, as we have
opportunity,
Let us do good to
all, especially to those
who are of the
household of faith.
Galatians 6:6–10
This
Scripture, vs. 6, is so often used as a hammer to make a person feel bad, to
cause a person to give money. It is true that we should be supporting our
congregations, but, and this again is a big but, not before you pay your bills,
you owe the bills, and Scripture us clear that we are not to owe anything to
anybody, and then pay what God has placed on your heart to give. I know, I
know, some churches demand 10%, even go so far as to say pay the church before
paying your bills, as if God will bless you for doing so in special ways.
Cannot God bless you if you give according to the Spirit within you, when you
have paid your debts? Jesus paid the debt we owed, our debt first, then the
blessing of His death, His resurrection, His ascension into heaven to sit at
the right hand of God to make eternal intercession for you, not the other way
around. That is money, but this Scripture is not all about money. How about
this: mow the lawn, clean the church, patch holes, assist in teaching, give the
pastor a chicken for his pot, whatever you do, do it for God, according to the
faith He has given you, not a measure of faith, God gives faith, we measure it
out often in portions. SHARE! There it is!
Sowing is
to reap, no sowing, no reaping. Sow the wrong thing, reap the wrong thing, sow
the right thing, reap the right thing. SIMPLE! Hard though as our flesh, our
sinfulness that has not yet left us, and still is in enmity with God when we
take our eyes off of Him and place them on ourselves. “I have sowed,” you say,
“I have done all these godly things,” and still do not see any blessing, my
wife has cancer, my kids are rebellious, my friends have left me, and I am
broke. Where is the blessings promised? How about this, you are already
blessed. What more can you want than the promised blessing, a blessing given to
the children of God; everlasting life. Want more? Why? Do you trust God? Do you
believe that you are the seed of Abraham and are recipients of the covenant God
made with Abraham that the Messiah would come through his line, and that many
in all nations would receive the benefit, the blessing by the coming of the
Seed, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Why live now as those this is all the life
there is? Why not live as what God made you to be, the bride of Christ, an
ambassador, and an adopted son and daughter by God who gives eternal life. This life passes, eternal life is just that:
eternal. Your citizenship is not here on earth: “For our citizenship is in
heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 3:20). Do you really believe He is coming again, coming for
His bride, that that which is corruptible will put on incorruptibleness? Or is
just a strong hope?
Now, as we
have opportunity, to good to all, especially those of the faith, those who are
our brothers, and sisters, who need our help, we may need help and would it not
be good to have a brother or sister give us aid? Is this not good? You say, “I
don’t know who needs help.” Well, take the time to find out. Or just rush off
to home, or to some restaurant, or to the beach, or to the lake, or to do some
shopping, all for yourself, and the needy left in the lurch. You reap what you
sow. What you have sown, will be reaped in due season. This is a promise of
God, and God never, never, never, goes back on His promises, so remember He has
promised the greatest blessing of all; life with Him, in a new world, a place
where Jesus has gone to prepare for you a mansion, and in that mansion you
shall live eternally.
So many
churches, pastors, leaders, teachers, demand that you get what the Bible never
promises, a second baptism of the Holy Spirit, a must to speak in some
gibberish tongue, or to be healers, to do, to do, to do, and the compel you to
make a good showing and this showing is in the flesh for God does not desire
works, does not desire sacrifice; He desires obedience. Why would such men
compel you to do things that the Bible does not require? So that the may boast
in your flesh. (Galatians 6:12–13). Paul ends this letter to the Galatians: “For
in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a
new creation. and as may as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be
upon them, and upon the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15–16). Let this end
this work on Galatians; we are free, we are no longer under the throes of sin,
unless we allow ourselves to be bewitched, misled. You are Israel, and the
promises given to Abraham are promises for you, you are his seed, and heirs of
God. Paul states this plainly: “who are Israelites, to whom pertain the
adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God,
and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the
flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. But it is
not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who
are of Israel, nor are they all children because the are the seed of Abraham;
but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’” “That is, those who are the
children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of
God the promise are counted as the seed” (Romans 9:4–8.
For there is not distinction
Between Jew
and Greek,
For the same Lord over all is rich
To all who
call upon Him,
For “whoever calls on the name
Of the LORD
shall saved.
Romans 10:11–12
Bring glad tidings to someone today
Richard L. Crumb
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