LAWS OF ENRICHMENT (GAL 6:6-10)

SERIES: FREE AT LAST, PART 24

GCEFC: MAY 16, 2010

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul has taken several verses to contrast the acts of the sinful nature to the Fruit of the Spirit. Acts of the sinful nature are prompted by our sinful nature—they’re always sinful.

2. The Fruit of the Spirit is prompted by the Holy Spirit within us—it’s always godly.

3. Now Paul addresses another practical manifestation of fruit-bearing Christians. The second manifestation is seen in how we invest.

4. There are probably few areas of life that more accurately reveal the condition of the heart than how we relate to and handle money.

a. Jesus said: We must be on our guard against all kinds of greed, because a person’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Talk about counter-cultural.

b. Jesus also said: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

c. The Word of God does not oppose our storing up. It does warn us to carefully consider where we’re storing up.

A. SHARE WITH THOSE WHO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION

1. A basic responsibility we see in V6: Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

2. It says that those instructed in the Word of God. Those taught the Word of God—should be prepared to share with those who instruct them and teach them in the Word.

a. Bible historians tells us that Paul did not receive regular compensation for his ministry among the churches. But that he used his skill in leatherworking to make tents to support himself financially.

b. Paul also had a credibility gap given his previous life as a legalistic Pharisee. So he supported himself to avoid any charge of preaching for personal financial gain.

d. But the same historians point out that Paul was a pioneer missionary—not a congregational pastor. When a church was planted and became stable, it was to provide a living wage for its ministers.

e. This same Paul says: In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

3. The expression “share all things” is an interesting one. It’s the word for fellowship and refers to sharing in a common purpose and common goal.

4. The compensation is not to be seen as payment for services—but as a partnership in God’s work. Both parties are contributing to God’s work and purpose in some way.

5. God desires the teaching of his Word. And God desires that those teaching his Word be compensated for it. It’s a partnership that benefits both.

6. The idea is not that everyone who does ministry is to be financially compensated. But that those called and committed to doing it fulltime must be compensated or they’ll be unable to provide for their family or avoid poverty.

7. Grace Church has a long history of commitment to compensating its pastors and its staff. We can assume this is just one reason we’ve been so blessed as a church.

B. WE REAP WHAT WE SOW

1. The next 2 verses, 7-8, talk about one of life’s most fundamental principles. The principle of sowing and reaping. You’ve heard it expressed any number of ways:

a. No pain/no gain.

b. Garbage in/garbage out.

c. You get what you pay for.

d. We reap what we sow.

e. Nothing ventured/nothing gained.

2. Here the principle is given a spiritual connection. V7: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 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.

3. You’ll recall that we saw in CH 5 that believers have a choice to make virtually every waking moment. To walk either according to our sinful nature, or to walk by the Spirit.

4. Just as we have a choice of which realm we will walk in—we also have a choice of which realm we will sow in. Whether we sow to the sinful nature—or to the Spirit.

5. But V7 says: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

6. The choice is ours. We’re free to make the choice. But we are not free of the consequences of our choice.

7. God has established a principle that is as predictable as the sunrise. The principle is that we can expect to reap what we sow.

a. So when we sow corn, we can expect to harvest corn. When we plant potatoes, we expect to harvest the potatoes.

b. If you plant squash seeds and a watermelon appears on the vine—we don’t assume a genetic mutation—we assume the seed package was mislabeled.

8. Can you imagine what life would be like if there was no Law of the Harvest?

a. So that when a farmer goes out to sow seed, he never knows what’s going to come up until after it comes up?

b. Even if Forest Gump didn’t know what he was going to get in the box of chocolates—he at least knew he was going to get chocolate!

9. Fortunately the Law of the Harvest is alive and well and has been working flawlessly for millennia.

10. Now Paul makes a spiritual application in V8: The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.

11. This law has far-reaching application, but Paul now focuses on the financial theme.

a. He wants us to understand that if we invest our wealth in things that are designed to please our sinful nature—we can count on a harvest that will be destroyed.

b. Think about what Jesus said about investing in things of this world. He said they aren’t going to last. They’re temporary. They won’t make it to the other side. They’re not eternal things—they’re temporal.

c. They’re temporal because they’re not part of God’s eternal economy. Jesus said that if you want something to last into eternity—it must be something that pertains to eternity—it must pertain to God’s kingdom—not to ours.

d. In fact, our sinful nature itself is temporal. We won’t be taking that with us into eternity. I'm certainly not taking mine. I don’t want it.

12. On the other hand, V8: the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

a. Now don’t think for a second that Paul is claiming that our salvation is riding on what we sow as believers.

b. Remember, our salvation is not the result of what we do—it’s the result of what God has done for us. That’s already been settled.

c. Paul would be so disappointed if he thought we didn’t have that down by now. He’s spent 5 chapters making sure we get it.

d. When the Bible talks about eternal life, it’s not just referring to the duration of life—but to the quality of life.

e. If the quality of eternal life was lousy—who would want it? Who wants to live a lousy life forever ? Such a life would make no sense at all.

f. Remember, Jesus said he came so we would not just have life, but that we would have life in abundance. Life to the full.

g. Eternal life isn’t just about existing forever. It’s about abundant life forever.

13. He’s saying that when we choose to sow to the Spirit—we invest in a quality of life that far exceeds anything this life can offer.

14. When we sow to the Spirit—we don’t reap the destruction of what we planted—we reap all that eternal life offers.

15. When we sow to the Spirit, we reap according to what we sow—we reap the harvest of the Spirit—which is wonderful.

16. But when we sow to the sinful nature, we also reap according to what we sow—we reap the harvest of the sinful nature—anything but wonderful.

a. We simply harvest what we plant. We reap what we sow.

b. If we sow yuck—we reap yuck. If we sow wonderful—we reap wonderful. You can’t sow yuck and reap wonderful. You can’t sow wonderful and reap yuck.

C. DON’T GET DISCOURAGED AND GIVE UP

1. But there’s a common element of sowing and investing that’s both the best part of it and the worst part of it.

2. That common element is time. Any of you who’ve ever invested, you know that time is your greatest ally.

a. For example, suppose you could save $100/month. At the end of one year you’d have accumulated $1200 plus $48 in interest at 4%.

b. At the end of the second year you’d have $2500—another $1200 plus $100 in interest. After 10 years you’d have $15,000.

c. But in the 17^th year, your interest will exceed the amount you’re saving. At 40 years, your interest will be 4 times your savings.

d. You’re saving $100/month. But the interest is $400/month. That’s the power of time.

e. But time is also the downside of investing. Because it takes time, investors get weary.

3. V9 says: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

4. When something takes a long time to bear fruit, we can become weary in the waiting. Whether a financial investment….or a planted crop…or investment in the things of God.

5. But there’s good news in the same verse: we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. The only thing that can prevent a harvest is if we give up. If we don’t give up—we’ll see it.

6. The analogy to investing money breaks down here because no financial investment is guaranteed. Many people have found this out the hard way.

7. Nor are crops guaranteed to come in at the end of the growing season. But we’re not talking about mutual funds or potatoes—we’re talking about God’s purposes.

8. These are guaranteed. The promise is that if we invest in the things of God and don’t quit—a harvest is certain. God takes charge of the harvest—it’s just a matter of time.

D. IT’S ABOUT PRIORITY

1. In the final verse, V10, it says: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

2. First we should understand the meaning of the phrase, “as we have opportunity.” It doesn’t mean that we should do good when the opportunity arises.

3. It means we must do good while we have the opportunity—because we won’t always have it. It’s a reference to our earthly life.

4. We must realize our limited opportunity and take advantage of it while we can. In other words, don’t wait—invest now.

5. So what are we to do now and not wait to do? We’re to invest in what God is doing. And what is God doing? He’s doing what we’ve established as our church mission.

a. God is calling people to follow Christ as Christian disciples.

b. He’s enabling believers to grow as they journey in community with other believers.

c. He’s allowing us to impact the world through our service.

6. These are the things we should be investing in. These are the things we believe the Word of God says that God will bless.

7. But the Apostle Paul is not shy. He’s not just talking about ministry in a general way. He includes the financial end too. It’s where he started in V6 and it’s where he ends in V10.

8. Doing good to all people means serving them in various ways. It includes prayer, it includes encouragement, it includes teaching, counsel, helping them with their burdens—and it includes financial help too.

9. Remember James’ words? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

10. Doing good involves many things. But it certainly involves ministering to people at their basic needs level. That’s why we have a benevolence ministry at Grace Church.

11. But notice that V10 adds that we must do good especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

12. Which is exactly where Paul began in V6. He’s saying that we have a special obligation to those in our own spiritual family. This makes intuitive sense.

13. First we care for our own family members—then we care for our neighbors. First we care for our fellow believers—then we care for those outside our spiritual family.

14. It’s not either or—it’s a matter of priority. We do both. But we do one first—then the other. So if one is limited in resources to give, they start with the family of believers—they start with the church family before giving to other causes.

CONCLUSION

1. So, each of us are sowers. And each sower must decide what his harvest will be. The harvest is determined by what we sow. God cannot be mocked—we reap what we sow.

2. If we sow to please our sinful nature. If we invest our resources to indulge our sinful nature—we’ll reap a harvest that will not endure. It will face destruction.

3. But if we invest our wealth in God’s purposes. If we invest our resources in what God is doing. If we sow to please the Spirit.

4. If we invest in our spiritual growth. And in the spiritual growth of others. If we invest in what God is doing—we’ll reap a harvest that will not only last—it will last forever.

5. Now, what about things we must buy that are neither evil nor sinful—nor do they contribute to God’s purposes?

6. Keep in mind that the Word of God doesn’t say that we must invest only in the things that contribute to God’s Kingdom.

7. But we must understand that some things do—and some things do not. And we have a choice as to which we will invest in.

8. And to realize that after we invest, we must wait for the harvest. It rarely comes quickly. It usually takes time. It may even take until eternity to see the results.

9. And the other aspect of investing in the things of God is that just like an agricultural harvest—we can expect far more than we sow.

10. One of my favorite quotes of all time is that: you can count the seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the apples in a seed.

11. One seed can be planted and it will produce one tree. But that one tree may have hundreds of apples. Each apple with many seeds—which can all be planted. There’s literally no way you can count how many apples can come from just a single seed.

12. Nor can we calculate the harvest that will come through our investments in God’s purposes. We simply have the promise that we will reap what we sow. And that our harvest will be greater than our sowing.

13. Whether we’re investing our time, our talents, or our treasure. Rest assured that what we invest in God’s purposes has a guaranteed return.

14. The only question is what we will sow and where we will sow. Because what we sow and where we sow it will always determine what we harvest.

15. I do hope you’re an active investor in the things of God. Or that you’ll become one soon. Starting with your believing family.

16. So that at the end of the harvest, we have something to show for our investment. Not just a missed opportunity that will never return.