Dance Lessons: Sowing and Reaping
Galatians 6:6-10
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
06-28-2020
Run, Forrest, Run
I stood at the starting line of the 2014 Christie Clinic Marathon in Champaign shaking like a leaf. Yes it was a bit chilly but that’s not why my nerves were getting the best of me. I was scared I wouldn’t make it to the finish line. Who runs their first full marathon at 44 years old?!
Enter Jennifer, a friend who had run many marathons and recognized the fear of a first time runner. This is what she told me:
“You’ve done the hard work. For 18 weeks, day after day, you’ve been training. You’ve been faithful. I know there were days you didn’t want to run but you did anyway. The difficult days are over. Today will be fun!”
And she was absolutely right! I didn’t bonk. I didn’t hit the wall. I ran with joy and never once wanted to quit. My goal was a turtle’s pace of 4:30 and I finished in 4:34 so I was satisfied with my time. It was a great day!
A couple of years ago, a young friend of ours decided she wanted to run a marathon. Instead of training for 18 weeks, she “trained” for about seven, and she didn’t do all of those runs either.
Because she was in her early 20s, she did finish the marathon, but it wasn’t fun. It was painful and grueling. And she was on crutches afterwards.
It is true - we do reap what we sow, whether it be in training for a marathon, planting corn or beans, strengthening our marriages, disciplining our children, taking thoughts captive, or simply being kind to people.
That’s the principle that Paul is going to teach the Galatians in the verses we will study this morning.
Carrying Each Others Burdens
Last week, Paul gave the Galatians, and us, a command:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 5:2)
We learned that the word “burden” in this verse means a “heavy load that is hard to lift and difficult to carry.”
This can be related to our finances, our relationships, our losses, our emotional baggage, or our spiritual shame over sin.
By helping others with their burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ.
What is the law of Christ?
Jesus said it this way:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
David Platt has said that the surest sign of the Holy Spirit’s work in a community is love.
Paul gives the Galatian Christians an example of how to carry the burden of someone who is caught in a sin and we are told that we who have the Spirit should restore that person gently.
The word restore is the same word that is used of setting a broken bone or mending a torn net. Our goal should be to restore that person back to Kingdom usefulness.
Finally, we are to carry our own load. This load is our daily life issues that is a backpack that we carrying ourselves. And as the Goose made very clear last week, we shouldn’t be carrying other people’s backpacks.
It speaks to the time when we will stand before God at the judgement. God will deal with us individually and I asked you if you were ready for tat day.
Remember that the Galatians were dealing with a group known as the Judaizers who were telling them that the “Jesus + nothing = everything” theology of Paul wasn’t quite right.
In order to be real Christians, they had to obey the Mosaic law, follow the dietary rules, and join the covenant community through circumcision. In other words, you had to become a Jew before you could be a true Christian.
But Paul is teaching them to dance to a different rhythm - one of grace, love, mercy, joy, and freedom.
And those who dance are thought crazy by those who cannot hear the music.
Turn with me to Galatians 6. This morning, we will be looking at verses 6-10.
Prayer
Where’s My Jet?!
Paul begins this section with another example of burden bearing:
“Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” (Gal 6:6)
Martin Luther wrote that preaching on this verse made him uncomfortable. I understand that sentiment completely.
In essence, what Paul is saying is pay your pastor!
?The Galatians had come out of paganism and the pagan priests charged a fee at their Temples.
But the teaching elders that Paul appointed did not charge such fees. The Christians in Galatia were to provide for them financially as they provided spiritual instruction to them.
The word “instruction” is where we get the word catechism. It’s a systematic study of the fundamentals of the faith.
Remember, these believers were all adults and they hadn’t gone to Sunday school, Awana, or Vacation Bible School.
I love that Paul uses the word “share.” This word is one you may be familiar with - “koinonia,” which means fellowship.
Eugene Peterson captures this well in his paraphrase of Galatians 6:6:
“Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.” (Gal 6:6, The Message)
Remember that Galatians was Paul very first letter and he is setting a pattern the for churches based on Jesus’ teaching.
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples, He gave them this instruction:
“Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.” (Luke 10:4-7)
When Paul would go into a region where the church was just be planted, he relied on his tent making busy for money. But in the churches that he had established and that were growing, he didn’t shy away from receiving support.
“Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?…Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” (I Cor 9:7-11, 13-14)
Paul wrote to Timothy, a young preacher:
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” (I Tim 5:17-18)
John Piper gives churches three points when it comes to paying pastors:
Teaching the Word of God in the church is essential.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom 10:14-15)
Over the years, I’ve had a lot of people encourage me to speak on different topics from the pulpit. Let me assure you that as long as I’m here, this pulpit will be reserved for the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ alone!
2. Teachers need time to study, meditate, pray and prepare. This is a glorious calling but it’s not easy.
3. Pastor/teachers should be paid so they don’t have to work a second job to make ends meet.
I heard a pastor this week say it this way, “I’m not paid to preach. I’m paid so I can preach.”
So what is “all good things?” Obviously, it involves financial compensation. In that area, there needs to a balance.
Kenneth Copeland is worth 750 million dollars and has a Gulfstream jet. Where’s my jet?! Here’s his house.
How about T.D. Jakes house? Steven Furtick’s house?
Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church in CA has a net worth of 40 million dollars. He and his wife reverse tithe - they live on 10% and give 90% away. He drives a 12 year old car, lived in the same house for 22 years, and doesn’t own a boat or a jet.
While some churches pay their pastors outrageous salaries, others determine to keep their pastor humble, hungry and poor by paying them peanuts.
I was eating lunch with an elder at the church I serve at in Florida and he asked me a question that made me laugh. This man, who had taken two golden parachutes from Fortune 500 companies to the tune of about 35 million dollars asked me, “Jeff, you are in your 40s. Where’s your money?!” I told him, “I’ve been in ministry the past 25 years. I’ve got different kind of rewards.”
When I was called into ministry, I knew that I would never be rich. But that’s okay with us.
Besides financial compensation, what else does “all good things” entail? Encouragement, which all pastors need. Oatmeal Butterscotch cookies. I have a very generous friend who takes me clothes shopping from time to time. Love my wife and children and the Goose and Bucky.
Maxine and I are very thankful for the love, care, and support that we have received here and the freedom I have to give myself completely to the work of the ministry.
The Law of the Harvest
Paul continues by introducing the “law of the harvest.”
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Gal 6:7)
Deception has been one of the main themes of Paul’s throughout this letter. This word can me deluded or led astray.
The phrase “God can not be mocked” literally means to “turn your nose up at God…to sneer…to treat with contempt.”
Living in an agrarian society, the concept of sowing and reaping would be easily understood.
It’s an enduring rhythm created by God and promised in His giving of the rainbow as a sign after the flood:
“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Gen 8:22)
Let me pause right here and make a distinction for you. Paul is not introducing the idea of “karma.” Karma is not a Christian idea and involves getting what you deserve and that your bad deeds will eventually catch up with you and punish you.
Grace is completely different. We get what we don’t deserve - forgiveness and freedom. And our sins are forgiven and are thrown as far as the east is to the west. (Psalm 103:12)
But this is a principle as sure as gravity. Gravity is a natural law. When I went sky diving last summer, when we jumped out of the plane, we didn’t float, we fell…fast!
If you eat ice cream for breakfast, you will not have six pack abs.
If you do not train for your marathon, you will be in a lot of pain afterwards.
If you plant tomatoes, you get tomatoes. If you plant corn, you get corn. If you sow a little, you reap a little.
In his discussion about being hilariously generous to the church, Paul writes:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” (2 Cor 9:6)
William Perkins wrote:
“There are two kinds of seeds which men sow in this life - good and evil.
There are two types of sowers - spiritual and carnal.
There are two types of ground - flesh and spirit.
There are two types of harvest - corruption and eternal life.”
Paul continues:
“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.” (Gal 6:8)
We’ve already learned that our “flesh” is the sinful nature that still remains after our salvation and will be with us until we go to heaven.
John Stott writes that sowing to our flesh “means to pander to it, coddle it, cuddle with it, instead of crucifying it!” (see Galatians 5:24)
Fred Allen has said that “many of us spend six days of the week sowing our wild oats and then on Sundays we pray for a crop failure.”
What does it look like to sow to the flesh? Well, Paul has already given the Galatians a pretty good picture:
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)
Paul explained this to the church at Rome:
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8)
What does sowing to the flesh reap, according to Paul? Destruction, corruption, decay, death.
When we sow to the flesh and hold on to that grudge, we reap a bitter spirit.
When we sow to the flesh by entertaining that lustful thought, we reap a mind warped by sin.
By the way, I’m not sure you know this. The number one age group that purchases Cialis or Viagra is 18-29 years old. That generation has been so “pornafied” that they literally can’t respond to real flesh and blood females.
You reap what you sow.
When we sow to the flesh and engage in gossip, we sow the destruction of our relationships.
We we sow to the flesh in our marriage by being selfish, we will not enjoy the companionship and oneness that God promises.
Job said,
“As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” (Job 4:8)
Hosea wrote that those who “sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 6:8).
The 60s saw the dawn of the sexual revolution, where the young people threw off the shackles of their parents morality and celebrated the summer of free love.
But, a generation later, what they sowed has reaped a harvest of pain, death, and destruction.
Ozzy Osbourne is no longer the “prince of darkness” but an old man with Parkinson’s who knows his time is running out. He has spent his entire life sowing to the flesh in absolutely absurd ways and what has he reaped? Well, he lives in a big house and has lots of money. But that doesn’t seen to be enough now.
In his latest video, that many very well be his last, he is shown sitting alone in a room watching home movies and this is the chorus:
Yes, I've been a bad guy
Been higher than the blue sky
And the truth is I don't wanna die an ordinary man
I've made momma cry
Don't know why I'm still alive
Yes, the truth is I don't wanna die an ordinary man.
There is a deep sadness in this song and after watching the video, I said a prayer that he would find what he is looking for - Jesus.
But Paul says that “whoever sows to the Spirit, reaps eternal life.”
We have already seen what sowing to the Spirit looks like:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)
Paul wrote to the Colossians:
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1-3)
This is an intentional focusing of our hearts on things above, as Paul told the Philippians:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8)
When we yield ourselves to the Spirit, when we are led by, walk in, keep in step with the Spirit then Paul says we reap eternal life.
Wait a minute! Is Paul saying that if we doing spiritual things we will earn heaven? Absolutely not.
Remember what Tim Keller has said, “We are not saved by fruit bearing. But our salvation is not a fruitless salvation.”
In other words, if you are being lead by the Spirit you will be sowing to the Spirit, and that will results in good works. (Eph 2:10)
What are some ways you can sow to the Spirit?
Make it a habit to read or listen to the Scriptures every day.
Take time out to pray and listen to worship music.
Buy a devotional to start your day with
Join our Wednesday morning Bible study or our Wed night Bible study
Attend church every Sunday you are able
Give generously to fund God's Kingdom
Serve those who need help carrying burdens
Jesus said that sowing to the Spirit is really about having an eternal perspective:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)
John Stott wrote these words;
“Holiness is a harvest; whether we reap it or not depends entirely on what we sow.”
Don’t Give Up
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9)
At a church I served at before, we supported a missionary in Spain, which is one of the hardest mission fields in the world. She had been there about a decade and had only seen a couple of people come to Christ. One of the students asked her if she ever got discouraged and she said that she was discouraged a lot.
Paul includes himself in this encouragement to not become “weary.” This word means to go slack, like an unstrung bow. It’s the idea of losing heart.
It’s easy to get tired in ministry. Most pastors that I know of have either burned out or come close. Doing good sometimes seems to do so little and the needs never end.
Paul is not downplaying that reality but he wants to give us the bigger picture.
A farmer plants corn and then he waits. He knows it isn’t going to sprout up overnight. It takes time. If he plants in April, he will reap in September.
It takes perseverance, a steadfast decision not to give up. For there is a proper time for the harvest. It make take years but if you sow faithfully there will be a harvest.
Maxine led a junior high girls Bible study for years. They would meet on Sat mornings and many times Maxine would come home crying. These teenage girls wouldn’t listen, would fart on each other, and Maxine generally considered it a failure.
Many years later, several of these girls, who are married with children of their own, have told Maxine how important that Bible study was to their spiritual growth.
What?!
Known as the Father of Modern Missions, William Carey was the first missionary to India who served for forty-one years translating the entire Bible into Bengali. He is also known for being a shoemaker, pastor, founder of the English Baptist Missionary Society, botanist, cultural anthropologist, educator, author, social reformer, and the first to bring the printing press to India.
The first seven years were terrible and he didn’t see one person come to Christ. Not one. In seven years!
Truthfully, I might have just packed in it and returned to the States. But after seven years, he baptized his first convert. And many others were to follow. All because William didn’t give up.
I read of man this week that was 103 and found himself sitting under a tree thinking about a sermon he had heard in the past. He told the story that he was born again under that tree at the age of 103.
He died three years later and his tombstone read, “A babe in Christ, age 3. Age according to nature, 106.”
The sermon that he had been thinking about? He had heard it 85 years before!
Are you praying for your wayward children or grandchildren? Don’t give up!
Are you seeking to restore a marriage that’s on the ropes? Don’t give up!
Are you dying inside as you watch someone you love destroy themselves with drugs or alcohol? Don’t give up!
James, the half brother of Jesus, wrote
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:7-8)
Paul ends this section with a call to make the most of our opportunities to do good.
Just Do Good
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Gal 6:10)
Since we know we will reap a harvest if we persevere, then we should be about the task of “doing good” as we have opportunity.
Paul tells the church at Colosse:
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Col 4:5)
Opportunities are like bubbles. The Goose loves bubbles. They are there for a moment then they are gone.
Paul implores us to be seize this opportunities to “do good.” Who are supposed to do good to? Some people? No, all people. Even if they can’t reciprocate? Yep. Even if they agree with us politically? Yep. Even if they look different from us? Yep.
We are to do good all, especially to our brothers and sisters in our church family.
Jesus said:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
This is pretty straight forward, isn’t? Do good! So let me give you a list of thirty things that you can do. Nope. You know what doing good looks like.
In fact, James makes it crystal clear:
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17)
Can I challenge you? Take a break from Facebook. Instead of scrolling and arguing with people who you will never change their minds, do good. Just go do good.
This couple was trying to get into their car. He 100 and sheds 89 years old. Three young men saw them and immediately helped them. They did good.
Maxine doesn’t like it when I tell these stories but she is an expert at quietly doing good.
She baked an absolutely incredible strawberry pound cake for Father’s Day. We walk Bucky every night and on our route there is an older man who is sitting out in his front yard who always waves to us.
This past week, she took him a piece of the strawberry cake, just to bless him. It turns out, he is Penny Rhodes father-in-law.
Individually and corporately, we are take advantage of the opportunities to do good.
If you don’t know where to start, Jesus gives a list of what we call the six acts of charity in Matthew 25:
Feed the hungry
Bring water to the thirsty
Invite the stranger in
Clothe those needing clothes
Minister to the sick
Visit those in prisons
I want to end with a short video that shows the power of a small idea and how doing good can change us and our communities.
