DOING GOOD TO ALL
TEXT: Galatians 6:1-10
INTRODUCTION
I. CARRY OTHER’S CARGO
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
A. “BROTHERS” (v.1)
1. This is the 8th time in Galatians that Paul uses the word “Brothers.”
2. This final chapter begins and ends with the word “brothers.”
3. They may have gotten out of step (5:25), but they’re still trusting in the cross, they are still saved, and they are still brothers.
B. “IF SOMEONE IS CAUGHT IN A SIN” (v.1)
1. There is some controversy as to what this phrase means.
2. Some say this refers to being caught by the sin.
3. Others say this refers to being caught by the church.
4. Rather than secretly gloating when a brother is “caught” in a sin, mature Christians will rush to his aid.
5. To me, it only makes sense if it refers to being caught in the act by someone from the church.
6. Does this mean it’s OK as long as you don’t get caught? NO!
7. The Bible teaches in verse 7 that you will reap a harvest for your sin whether the church knows or not.
8. How else can “you who are spiritual” restore him, though if you don’t know about his sin?
9. Sin = Gk. Paraptoma = to fall to the side or to stumble
10. The picture is of one’s foot falling off the path and on to forbidden territory.
C. “YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL SHOULD RESTORE HIM” (v.1)
1. I know how some of you “SPIRITUAL” folks are.
2. You worked so hard to become “spiritual” that you don’t want anyone else to reach your lofty place of spirituality.
3. You don’t want anybody else to be as “spiritual” as you are.
4. So, you don’t really want to restore anybody.
5. You’d rather just condemn somebody that you’ve just caught in the act.
6. You might prefer to beat them with a 2x4, but God says you have to restore them.
7. Come on now, I know how some of you are…
8. When people proudly consider themselves to be “spiritual” they generally are far from it.
9. If you’re truly “spiritual” you will have the fruit of the Spirit.
10. If you’re truly “spiritual” you will try to restore rather than simply condemn.
11. Paul refers to the “spiritual” –vs- “fleshly” in 1Cor. 2:15-3:4.
12. The fleshly is a baby Christian concerned with status and self.
13. The “spiritual” has the mind of Christ and a servant’s heart.
14. Restore = Gk. Katartizo = restore, mend a net, set a broken leg
15. ILLUSTRATION – The Restored Preacher
Dr. J. Vernon McGee used to tell the story of a preacher who was an alcoholic before he got saved. The preacher’s ministry became more than he thought he could handle one day, and he got drunk. He was so ashamed the next day that he called his board members into his office and he resigned. When they questioned him as to his reasons, he was honest and straightforward with them. He simply told them that he had gotten drunk the night before. It was obvious that he was repentant and ashamed of his sin. One of those board members did something that was unexpected. He came and put his arm around that preacher. Then he said, “Let’s all pray.” After praying, they refused to accept his resignation. Instead, they restored him. There are some people who would have put him out of the ministry, but those deacons put that preacher back on his feet, and God marvelously used him after that.
D. “YOU MAY ALSO BE TEMPTED” (v.1)
1. Someone has stumbled and broken a spiritual leg
2. You are to restore or reset the leg
3. You are to be careful that you don’t stumble also
E. “CARRY EACH OTHER’S BURDENS” (v.2)
1. The way of the flesh is “every man for himself.”
2. The way of the Spirit is “let’s make it to heaven together.”
3. Sometimes our fellow believers fall beneath the load.
4. When they do, we’re supposed to lend a helping hand.
5. Some people would attempt to take advantage.
6. But, verse 5 rules that out.
II. CARRY YOUR OWN "CARRY-ON" LUGGAGE
4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
5 for each one should carry his own load.
A. “EACH ONE SHOULD CARRY HIS OWN LOAD” (v. 5)
1. People must assume their own responsibilities.
2. KJV uses (“burden”) in both v. 2 and v. 5
3. However, Paul used two separate words.
4. In v.2 Gk.=baros means heavy, burdensome, or weighty.
5. The point of v.2 is that the burden has become too heavy for a person to bear alone.
6. In v. 5 Gk.=phortion means “to carry.”
7. The difference is like the difference between cargo and carry-on luggage.
8. You get help with the cargo.
9. You carry your own carry-on baggage.
B. WHAT IS CARRY-ON BAGGAGE?
1. No one can repent for you.
2. No one can bear spiritual fruit for you.
3. No one can use your spiritual gifts for you.
4. These are all things you have to do for yourself.
C. WHAT IS CARGO?
1. We can help others with physical burdens.
2. We can help others with financial burdens.
3. We can help others with social burdens (we can arbitrate)
4. These are things we should help others with.
III. PAY THE PREACHER (v.6)
6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
A. PAUL PUTS IT BLUNTLY
1. Paul puts it in simple terms.
2. Paul bluntly says: “Pay your preacher.”
3. If someone ministers to you spiritually, minister to him materially.
4. If you get bread you don’t go by the checkout without paying.
5. Some get spiritual bread and never share.
6. If you get groceries at Smith’s you don’t pay at Albertson’s.
7. Some get fed here and pay TBN.
8. The Word of God says that you are to share with those who minister to you.
B. SHOULD WE PAY THE PREACHER?
1. This has been an age old debate.
2. Some cultists accuse paid ministers of being hirelings.
3. Throughout 1Cor 9, Paul defends the idea of paid ministers.
4. Meanwhile, he explains why he chose not to receive money there.
5. He never took an offering from Corinth to avoid being accused of being in the ministry for the money.
6. This was due to the immaturity and selfishness of the Corinthians.
7. Paul insists that those who minister to the spiritual needs of their flock should be supported by their flock:
1 Cor 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (KJV)
8. We also know that Paul accepted offerings from other churches so he could minister at Corinth:
2 Cor 11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. (NIV)
IV. PLANT GOOD SEED (v.7-8)
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
A. A MAN REAPS WHAT HE SOWS
1. This truth is obvious to every one who has ever planted a garden.
2. Plants yield seeds which reproduce “according to their kind.”
3. Paul gives a similar “law of the harvest” in 2 Cor 9:6, which refers to giving money.
4. This verse does not just refer to money.
5. The larger emphasis is the conflict between the flesh and spirit.
B. SOWING TO THE FLESH BRINGS DESTRUCTION
1. The basic instinct of the flesh is selfishness and self-preservation.
2. Those who follow the sinful nature will be too selfish to share.
C. SOWING TO THE SPIRIT REAPS ETERNAL REWARDS
1. The basic instinct of the Spirit is love.
2. Those who seek to please the Spirit will produce the Spirit’s fruit.
V. BE A DO-GOODER (v.9-10)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
A. LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD
1. “not become weary” means don’t get tired or careless.
2. Too often we quit just before we would have won.
3. Have you ever left a battle and found out how easily the next person did?
4. Have you ever given up a project, and found that the next guy easily finished it due to all of your hard work?
5. Don’t quit.
6. The seed will come up and grow.
B. FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST
1. “proper time” is the season of harvest.
2. It’s that time when God in his own wisdom fulfills the promise.
3. Those who faithfully sow sometimes lean back on their hoe.
4. But the basic truth is that God’s plan will be accomplished on His own timetable.
C. IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.
1. This pictures a bow being “unstrung” when the archer’s through.
2. People can get “unstrung” too.
3. We need to stay strung in the sense that we keep sowing seed.
4. "Compassion fatigue" is one of the new terms of our times.
5. It means "I’m tired of repeated calls to do good."
6. Why must my happiness be ruined by being reminded of the miseries of others?
7. The Paul wrote: “Let us not become weary in doing good.”
D. LET US DO GOOD TO ALL PEOPLE
1. Instead of looking for a place to quit, look for another place to start!
2. Doing good to all people is a symptom of the fruit of the Spirit.
3. While the sinful nature is eager to remove names from the benevolence list, the Spirit’s nature (love, kindness, goodness, etc.) is always ready to add one more.
E. ESPECIALLY TO BELIEVERS
1. Paul says we ought to be do-gooders.
2. When you walk in the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is produced.
3. Then you are going to do good.
4. You will do good for all men, especially for other believers.
