Be Generous And do Good
May 26, 2020
Commentary
This portion of scripture is often referred to as “the law of the harvest“, “the law of cause and effect” or “the sowing and reaping principle.” If certain things are done, other things will occur.
He starts off by saying that just as the teacher shares spiritual treasures, those who are taught need to share material treasures (v. 6). Paul wanted the Galatian believers to feel a responsibility in supporting anyone who was helping them grow spiritually. It is true that the Apostle Paul earned his own living because he did not want to become a stumbling block to the unsaved (I Cor. 9) but he taught that spiritual leaders should be supported by the gifts of God’s people. Jesus taught “The laborer is worthy of his hire.”
It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and a squash came up. It is a natural thing to reap what you sow. This is true in many areas of your life. If you gossip about your friends you will lose their friendship. If you plant to reap your own desires you will probably reap a crop of sorrows. We can use our finances to either promote the Spirit or the flesh or for the glory of the Lord. It is like sowing seeds in the soil of the flesh or the soil of the Spirit. Sowing our money to the flesh will bring a harvest of corruption but sowing to the Spirit will produce eternal dividends (vv. 7-8). However once we have finished sowing we cannot change the harvest. If we are not careful much of our seed will be wasted on carnal things that can never bring glory to God. Also we will reap in proportion to what we have sown and “In due season we shall reap if we faint not” (v.9). We have opportunity during our life on earth to serve others in the Lord’s name. Loving concern will do more to win a person to Christ than the most carefully articulated argument (v. 10).
Application
The most valuable thing I posses is my time so it is very important how I invest it. I need to constantly be asking myself the following question: Is what I am doing or where I am spending my money going to bring eternal dividends?
Galatians 6:6– 10 (NET)
6 Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. 7 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, 8 because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.