Bible Study Materials

Galatians 6:1-10

by Paul Choi   04/27/2014  

Question


Galatians Lesson 10

LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD

(A Man Reaps What He Sows)

 

Galatians 6:1–10

Key Verse: 6:9

 

  1. How should those who live by the Spirit treat those caught in sin? (1a) What is involved in “restoring” someone gently? (2Co2:6–8) What dangers should we be aware of? (1b)

 

  1.  Read verse 2. How can we fulfill the law of Christ? (5:14; Ro15:1–3) How are the “burdens” in verse 2 and “load” in verse 5 different? In Christian community, why is it important to carry each other’s burdens?

 

  1.  What mentality can hinder us from carrying others’ burdens? (3) How can we see ourselves soberly? (4; Ro12:3) While helping others, why should we not excuse ourselves from carrying our own load? (5)What should we do for those who helped us study and understand God’s word? (6)

 

  1.  Read verse 7. What does this teach us about God? What is the universal principle here,which governs all human endeavors? How did Paul apply this principle to our spiritual lives both negatively and positively? (8) Why is it so important to please the Spirit rather than our sinful nature?

 

  1.  Read verse 9. In light of Paul’s previous teachings, what did he mean by “doing good”? (5:13b; 6:1,2,6; 2Ti4:2) Why might people become weary or be ready to give up? What promise and hope help us to persevere and overcome? (9b)

 

  1.  Read verse 10. In light of the assurance of the harvest, when should we do good? (Jn9:4) For whom? Why especially for the family of believers?

 


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Message


LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD

Galatians 6:1-10

Key Verse:6:9 “ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

  Last week we learned how to live as free men who are justified through faith in Christ. Paul said that we must walk by the Spirit. Did you walk by the Spirit last week? Did you have constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit and bear fruits of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? We learned that we can walk by the Spirit by reading the word of God, which was written and inspired by the Holy Spirit. We can walk by the Holy Spirit by reading the word, meditating on it, and obeying it. Those who walk by the Spirit are truly blessed because they experience a deep spiritual world and bear fruits of the Holy Spirit every day.

  In today’s passage Paul continues to teach us what to do as spiritual men. Even though we are justified through faith, not by works, we must do what is good as spiritual men. There are two things which Paul emphasizes: First, bearing one another’s burdens. Second, continuing to do what is good.

First, bearing one another’s burdens (1-5) Look at verse 1. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Men are weak and vulnerable to temptation. When a member of Christian fellowship falls into sin, how should we deal with him? Paul said that we who walk by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Here the verb “restore”, “katarizo” in Greek, is a medical term used for setting a fractured bone. Imagine when your bones are fractured! We should restore those who are caught in a sin as doctors set fractured bones. Those who are immature may criticize the person who was caught in a sin. But the purpose of restoring is not for condemning, but for healing, encouraging, and making them useful again.

  How should we restore them? Gently! Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy
Spirit and characters of our Lord Jesus. (Mt 11:29,30) Jesus said, “…Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” Gentleness comes from compassion. A woman who had been caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus. The religious leaders insisted that Jesus condemn her according to Moses’ law. But Jesus did not do so. Jesus did not treat her harshly. Rather Jesus forgave her and restored her by giving her new life direction. (Jn 8:11,12) Compassion is sharing suffering together. We have to see those who are trapped in a sin with the eyes of compassion, not of condemnation. Compassion is part of God’s divine nature.

  Paul warns those who restore others to watch themselves. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”  No one can brag about their will power over temptations. Who expected King David to be trapped in the sin of adultery? Temptation comes to anyone anytime from anywhere. Therefore, we watch ourselves so that we may not be tempted, especially when we try to help the weak and the fallen. There is a story about Rev. Billy Graham. He never counseled women personally in an enclosed room. This was because he did not want to be tempted. One day he was asked for an interview by Hillary Clinton, who at that time was a young and ambitious law student. Rev. Graham met her, not in his office room, but in an open restaurant so that he might avoid from any possible temptation or gossip.

  Look at verse 2. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Restoring is like shepherding. It is not an easy job. Sometimes we have to carry other’s burdens. Here, carry other’s burdens means bear other’s sin and weaknesses. The word “burden” “bare” in Greek, means “heavy weight.” People treat sinning lightly as when they drink a cup of coffee. But the price of sin weighs heavier than they expect, as if they are carrying several hundred pounds on their shoulders. Sin gives heavy burdens to us as well as to others.  No one likes to carry other’s burden of sin. Sin also emits a bad smell like rotten fish. It is not easy to bear other’s sin and weaknesses. But Paul said that we should carry each other’s burdens. This is because when we do so we fulfill the law of Christ, which is to ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’(Mk 12:31, Jn 13:34)

  In verses 3-5 Paul teaches us what kind of attitude we should have when we restore others. Look at verses 3-5. “If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.” People may think that they are better or superior than others when they counsel or advise others. But we should not do this. We are not different from others. We live only by God’s grace as forgiven sinners. Humility is the right attitude which we should have when we restore others. Paul said in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”

  When we do something good for others, we must not compete with each other. Someone might brag about himself for restoring more than others. Doing good is not for competition, but for completion of the law of Christ Jesus. We also must not neglect our own duties or responsibilities while carrying other’s burdens. Charitable actions cannot be an excuse for negligence of our own duty. Each one should carry their own load. Here, the word ‘load’ ‘phortion’ in Greek means a ‘pack’ which a person carries. Last Monday I skipped an exam in a staff meeting, making an excuse that I had to pick up someone from the airport. But I must take the exam as well as pick up someone. I should carry my own load. If not, I will be called a ‘hypocrite.’

Second, a man reaps what he sows. (7,8) Look at verses 7,8. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 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.” We are saved by God’s grace. We are justified through faith in Jesus, not by works. We have freedom in Jesus Christ. (5:1, 13) This does not mean that we are free to sin. God’s grace is not a license for pleasing our fleshly desire. We must not abuse God’s grace. As a man reaps what he sows, so also we will reap what we sow. If we sow to please our sinful desire, we will reap destruction from the flesh. 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. (5:19-21)  But if we sow to please the Holy Spirit, we will reap eternal life from the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (5:22-23).We will reap what we sow. We cannot cheat God. God cannot be mocked. Remember that a man reaps what he sows. This is a universal truth and an undisputable natural law.

  When Paul said, ‘Do not be deceived’, he meant that people are deceived by worldly consensus. We live in a mass production society. People expect maximum outcome from minimum input. These days, online businesses become prosperous because they satisfy the customer’s cost-effective desire. We want to put in little and receive much in every aspect of life. Students find ways to receive better results from less effort. Missionaries expect fruitful discipleship ministry with less sacrifice. As for me, I want to write a wonderful message without much prayer or struggles. However, we are all deceived by this false idea or belief. A man reaps what he sows. A student who works hard will receive good grades. A student who wastes time playing computer games yet expects good grades is deceived. A Bible teacher or missionary who expect a successful ministry without struggling and prayer is deceived, too. If I expect a life-changing message without frequent keeling down in prayer, I will mock God. As seeds do not lie, so God does not lie. When you sow beans, you will reap beans. When you sow tomatoes, you will reap tomatoes, not watermelons. A student who studies hard day and night will receive good grades. A missionary who preaches the word day and night will receive good fruits of life. A messenger who follows the Spirit will reap peace and eternal life.

  Third, let us not become weary in doing good. (9,10) Look at verse 9. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” We know that doing what is good is good. In light of Paul’s previous teaching what did he mean by ‘doing good’? Serving one another in love is good. (5:13) Restoring who is caught in a sin with compassion is good.(6:1) Carrying each other’s burden is admirable. (2) We must share all good things with our instructor.(6) As those who know the truth of gospel, we must preach the word in season and out of season. (2 Tim 4:2). All these are good. What else can you do good?

  So why do people become weary in doing good and become ready to give up? They have many reasons, but mainly because of poor results or negative responses. People who are deceived by mass production expect instant and visible results. In Israel it takes at least four months from sowing to harvest. But some people expect a quicker harvest. They want to harvest before their crops become ripe. People become impatient. They become easily weary and are ready to give up.  Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and it is one of the most important attitudes in doing what is good. Remember how Jesus helped Nicodemus. Nicodemus was a proud elite. He continued to ask ‘why’ and ‘why’ to Jesus. Jesus did not give up on him, but with patience taught him the secret of being born again. (Jn 3:1-15) Jesus was very patient in helping the Samaritan woman. It took a lot of patience to bear her ignorance and rebellion during their conversation. But Jesus waited until her spiritual eyes opened to see Jesus as the Messiah. (Jn 4:1-25) Jesus showed great patience with his twelve disciples. Until they became mature spiritual leaders, Jesus waited, taught, disciplined, and blessed them. Someone said that it takes a year for a man to plant a flower, ten years for a tree, and a lifetime for a person. It took more than 25 years after Abraham was called by God in the Old Testament for him to grow to be a blessing to the world. We need patience. We must not become weary or easily give up in doing good.

  People also burn out or give up when they see negative responses from others. More than a century ago, one American missionary came to Korea and preached the gospel. Some ignorant Korean gangsters mocked him and persecuted him. One day one gangster burned the church building and struck the missionary with a rock. What did the American missionary do? Did he give up and go back to his own country? No! He visited the gangster and forgave him and invited him to his church. The gangster was moved by the missionary’s forgiving love and soon he repented of all his sins. Later, the gangster became one of the first anointed Korean pastors and later became a missionary in Jeju Island. When we go out and preach the gospel, we are often rejected or persecuted. We must not feel bad. We must rejoice in sharing suffering and glory with Christ Jesus. We must not give up, but continue to preach the word.

  Why must we not become weary or give up in doing good?  It is because at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Let us read verse 9 again. Here, ‘at the proper time’ means ‘in God’s appointed time.’ In God’s appointed time we surely will reap a harvest if we don’t give up. The soil does not lie. Indeed, the soil will produce a crop according to what we sow. God never lies. Indeed he will produce fruits of life according to what we preach and teach. It is only a matter of time when we reap a harvest.

  On the last day we all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ when we finish our life on this earth. There is no exception for this moment. We will stand before God with our life-report and will be judged according to what we have done while living on this earth. Those who sowed their lives for the Spirit will reap a harvest of eternal life. But those who sowed their lives for their sinful desire will reap eternal condemnation. Romans 2:6-10 describes God’s righteous judgment on the last day. “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentiles; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentiles.” Amen.

  Look at verse 10. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” As a conclusion, Paul urges the Galatians to do good in every given opportunity. Opportunity in doing good is not always given. Everything has a time; a time for sowing and a time for harvest, a time for fishing and a time for resting, a time for serving and a time for waiting. We must do good to all people, especially to those who are our family members in Christ. This will build up the body of Christ and strengthen the unity of our community. In conclusion, may God help us not become weary or give up when we do good. May he give us patience, faith, and compassion, so that we may reap a harvest of life, a harvest of victory and a harvest of glory at the last day. Amen.


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