Sharing Our Burdens & Blessings part 2
Stand Firm in Freedom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week we introduced this final section of Paul’s letter t0o the Galatians. It continues the practical half of his letter, focusing on the implications of being a people who are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone.
In the previous chapter Paul warned the church against practicing the works of the flesh and instead to walk in the Spirit, which will result in us bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our life.
Last week as we started in chapter 6 we saw that Paul was answering, in essence, the question: What is a Christ-following church all about?
His answer in this section is: A church is to be a Christian community that walks by the Spirit.
More specifically, we share one another’s burdens and blessings.
Last week we focused on burden sharing, learning:
Burden sharing requires gentleness.
Burden sharing requires caution.
Burden sharing requires humility.
Burden sharing requires mindfulness.
Most importantly we saw the priority of sharing one another’s burdens with the call to:
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
This morning we will look at the second part, sharing blessings.
Body: Galatians 6:6-10
Body: Galatians 6:6-10
Sharing blessings is a call to generosity.
The definition that would fit with the biblical view of generosity is “the free and liberal bestowal of wealth, possessions or food upon others.” I would add to this that a generous person will also share their time and talents. Additionally, a truly generous Christian will share the greatest blessing in our lives, the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
It’s a call to unselfishness for all followers of Christ Jesus and our example is, of course, Christ Jesus Himself.
The NT is full of the charge to live generously:
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
I could go on and on, but the point is, the New Testament calls followers of Christ to strive to live generously in all areas of our lives.
In this section, Paul tells believers to “share all good things” and “do good to everyone.” This is a call to be generous with, as has become popular to say, our time, talents, and treasures.
But wait, I don’t have much of anything?
Something to consider: For the most part, throughout the first century and beyond, Christians we very rarely rich. And, historically, when Christians have been well off, they tend to grow complacent and the church experiences it weakest times.
Yes, there have usually been some rich people in the mix, but generally speaking, Paul is rarely writing to people who are well off. And yet, he calls them to be generous, none-the-less. We will see in this passage why this is in a little bit.
Another statement that I sometimes hear is: It’s just as important to be generous with our time and talents, then our treasures. I agree with this, in part. If the point is that we should be generous with our time and talents as well, then you’re right on. However, often times what that really means is, “I’d like to serve somewhere, but I don’t want to give money.” That is not generosity. God calls us to use all three, not to pick and choose like we are at a buffet.
Let’s look at the specifics how Paul calls us to share our blessings:
Show generosity toward spiritual leaders (v. 6)
Show generosity toward spiritual leaders (v. 6)
One commentary I read titled this section, “Pay Your Pastor.” It thought that was funny. But, in essence, Paul is saying that the church ought to take care of the pastor and those who are called to Christian service.
Now, I’m going to be honest, I hate talking about money at the church...
In fact, there was a time when I was very young in the ministry that I said I’d never do it. Luckily, I had a mentor who scolded my foolishness and informed me that I’d be robbing from God and from my people if I didn’t teach on money, specifically the call to give generously.
I’ve been blessed in my ministry in that all four churches I’ve been on staff at have been very supportive of my family, particularly financially.
I’ve always served smaller churches and at every one of them, the church has done all it could to provide for our needs, even at great sacrifice to themselves sometimes.
FBCR is no exception there. On more than one occasion I’ve commented to Margaret that many churches of 50 regular attenders cannot pay their pastor a full-time salary. FBCR does that. Yes, others might not feel that it’s much, but it takes care of our needs, and we are thankful for it.
That being said, if I was going to challenge this church when it comes to generosity towards the pastor it would be with this: be generous with your time and talents in our church AND our community.
Few things bring me greater joy than to see our people serving here at the church, and particularly in our community.
Not only does it show the community that Castle Rock matters to FBCR, but it also gives us the best opportunity to develop relationships with people that will result in people coming to know and follow Jesus.
That’s what I want WAY more than money!
Show generosity towards one’s self (vv. 7-9)
Show generosity towards one’s self (vv. 7-9)
Now, don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here. I’m not suggesting we need to be generous with ourselves in a worldly sense. That’s foolishness.
But, look at what Paul says here, using a metaphor from working a field or a garden:
What you sow, you will reap...
If you sow the flesh, you will reap corruption...
If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life. Wait, what does that mean?
It take us back to what Paul says in verse 7...
The Greek word for “mocked” here means “to turn up one’s nose.”
It’s a disregarding of God’s counsel. Contextually, it’s a rejection of the call to walk by the Spirit.
On the other hand, when we do walk by the Spirit, we will reap an interest that will pay off in glory.
Not that it will earn us eternal life, but we will reap our blessings when we are experiencing eternal life.
Don’t grow weary of doing good, because at the right time you will reap a harvest from your work...
So, as we’ve look at Paul’s words here we see that Paul is telling believers that the best way to receive blessings ourselves from the Lord (something we all should desire) is to live generously.
That is one of the great benefits of generous living: God rewards His people for our generosity.
But remember, it’s in due season, which doesn’t mean our season, but His.
Additionally, remember this:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
I want just enough blessings on earth to be content, but I’m looking forward to my greatest blessings being in Heaven, not here on earth!
Show generosity toward people outside the church (v. 10)
Show generosity toward people outside the church (v. 10)
Paul tells believers to be good to everyone.
Now, contextually we should see this as connecting to Paul’s larger point to live generously, sharing our blessings with others. That’s how Paul is telling believers to “do good” in this section.
But let’s look at this business of “as we have opportunity.”
It means, quite simply, whenever God gives us opportunity.
When we have the resources and someone else has the need.
It’s not a call to foolishness, of course. We need to use our brains...
But, when we are truly walking by the Spirit, God will put the right people in our pathway at the right time. The key is being attuned to the Spirit.
I recommend asking the question: “What will really help in this situation?” Also, “Why am I doing this, to help the person or to feel good about myself?” This is important because we live in a world of virtue signaling...
It’s good also at times to seek advice from others who you know are walking by the Spirit...
Show generosity toward fellow followers of Christ (v. 10)
Show generosity toward fellow followers of Christ (v. 10)
Not only are we to be generous to everyone, we are to be especially generous to other members of the family of faith, the church of Jesus Christ.
Last week I introduced you to one of my favorite books by Francis Schaeffer called How Should We Then Live? Another of Dr. Schaeffer’s books that I highly recommend is The Mark of a Christian. (It’s a much easier read, by the way.) There are numerous nuggets of wisdom throughout the book, but two I’ll share this morning is these:
“I have observed one thing among true Christians in their differences in many countries: What divides and severs true Christian groups and Christians - what leaves a bitterness that can last for 20, 30, 40 years (or for 50 or 60 years in a son’s or daughter’s memory) - is not the issue of doctrine or belief that caused the differences in the first place. Invariably, it is a lack of love - and the bitter things that are said by true Christians in the midst of differences.”
Dr. Schaeffer’s point can be brought to bear on the issue of generosity because true Christian generosity stems from love: love for God and love for one another.
He goes one to say this (be warned, this is convicting): “In John 13 the point was that, if any individual Christian does not show love toward other true Christians, the world has a right to judge that he is not a Christian. Here Jesus is stating something else which is much more cutting, much more profound: We cannot expect the world to believe that the Father sent the Son, that Jesus’ claims are true, and that Christianity is true, unless the world sees some reality of the oneness of true Christians.”
Here’s the point: If we cannot show generosity to other believers, then what does this say about the One we call our Lord and Savior? The One we claim to be followers of? Today, large swaths of the world around us doesn’t know who Jesus truly is. They know caricatures of Jesus, drawn from unbiblical sources, pseudo-biblical source, and half-truths. But more and more people are not encountering the true Jesus.
And for many, their view of Jesus will often be colored by what they see in Christ’s followers. I’m not saying this is necessarily the best way to see Jesus, but it’s a reality for far too many.
So, how we show love to one another truly matters.
That’s the beauty of striving to live generously with our time, talent and treasure: it’s one of the best ways to show the world that there is something different about those of us who follow Jesus. That we truly love others because He first loved us.
We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.