“Spiritual Investment — Sowing and Reaping”
Galatians 6: 6-10
Rev. Min J. Chung
(Lord’s Day Service, October 30, 2016)
Galatians 6: 6-10
6
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7Do not be
deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who
sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will
from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and
especially to those who are of the household of faith.
INTRODUCTION
Galatians talks about what happens internally in the hearts of people. In this passage, we’ll talk
about how it all starts in your heart. What you sow, what you become, what destiny you will
have in your life. We have come to Galatians 6 devoted to practical exhortations. In Galatians 5,
Paul gave his general description of spiritual life, spiritual battle, spiritual sanctification, spiritual
glorification and growth.
Now in Galatians 6, Paul gives a more specific description of what that spiritual life of love
looks like and he touches on two specific topics. We talked about one last week: as we become
more spiritually mature, we can restore other people. Today, this section we will cover spiritual
investment. If you grow and mature in your spiritual life, you will overflow; and what that life of
overflow looks like—that is, you will live a life of generosity. It’s about spiritual investment—
What do you invest? Whether it’s time, thoughts, in your heart and life, what do you live for?
How do you want to plan your future? It all depends on what you do now—spiritual investment.
What you sow in you, you will reap in your life and destiny.
I. How to learn to sow [6] – Teachers
6
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
You learn how to sow and invest correct things in your life through teachers, not through false
teachers.
A. Restored
First, you need to be restored. This passage is connected to the last passage of fallen
brothers or someone who is struggling in his/her spiritual life. These people are restored
by spiritually mature people, or what we call teachers.
Galatians 6: 1
1
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore
him in a spirit of gentleness.
There was somebody in your spiritual life that came to you and helped you in your
spiritual life—whether it’s the preaching of the Gospel, someone praying for you, or
someone who counseled you when you were struggling. We have all been restored. The
word restored is in reference to a fractured bone. If a bone is fractured, you restore it by
placing it back. We are to be spiritual physicians and nurses for the glory of God. Sin
causes a fracture in our spiritual life. It causes us to be broken in our foundation.
Through our relationships with one another, we are created to picture the relationship of
the Godhead- God the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit—incredible love for each other.
But when we use each other instead of loving each other, our relationship is fractured.
Sexual relationship within the context of marriage is beautiful and pictures the intimacy
we can have with God—how God is so intimate with us and how we are to experience
and express this intimacy through sexual relationships. But we misuse sexual
relationships outside of marriage. Without the confinement and framework of God, we
become broken and become fractured.
It’s the same thing with money. We are to use material things, monetary things that we
have or money to show the generous hand of God. God gives to us with His grace. How
can we show that through things that people can see? If they cannot see God, they need to
see God through the things that they can see so that as we give to them with love and the
generosity of our hearts, God is pictured and seen through us. When we sin and selfishly
want to gather, the intention of what He intended is fractured and we become fractured.
It’s because we have a fractured nature, and God is in the process of restoring us. All of
us are being healed.
B. Taught
Once as you are restored, you have to be taught with the Word. The word taught in Greek
is catechumen. The word catechism comes out of the word taught. We are taught with
practical things when we are restored—usually through do’s and don’ts, but slowly we
are taught why through the Word of God. Not only why through the verses of the Word
but the whole of the Scripture we call doctrine and theology. Some denominations call it
catechism. We learn the framework of the Scripture- values and worldviews. It becomes
a personal conviction and philosophy of life that is deduced out of the Scripture.
C. Share
We are to live our lives. The word in Greek is koinonia, which means fellowship.
Theologically speaking it’s sharing between God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy
Spirit- there is an incredible fellowship between the godhead. Between one another,
pouring forth love for each other. They are so loving and so generous towards one
another. As we look into the Bible, the Holy Spirit shares His blessings to us. That’s why
in the benediction at the end of the service, the fellowship / koinonia of the Holy Spirit
that will empower you before you go forth. Never walk out before the benediction, it’s an
incredibly blessing time that as a church, God is pouring His blessings upon us at the end
as we are about to walk out. That’s what koinonia is and we are to picture that as we
share with one another, often with material things.
In context it says, “the ones who are taught are to share all good things”- he’s talking
about monetary, material things- “to the one who teach.” And you are to show that
koinonia to your teachers. In the context, he is talking about a full-time ministers that
don’t have a job. Their job is to teach the Church of Jesus Christ- to train and teach
people. This passage is saying, ‘they don’t have a job, you have a job. You have an
income. And their income is to be provided through your tithing and offerings to them so
that they don’t have to spend time in those things and just concentrate on teaching the
Word of God. So you can be trained so you can go out to the world and share the love of
Jesus Christ.’ In the Church of Jesus Christ, there are full-time ministers and there are
lay-people. We are all to serve one another. A full-time minister’s job is to train people so
that people can serve one another and serve God to the world. The context of koinoiniasharing different things to one another, but serving one another. Many of you will
become leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ, in the local church in the future, and one of
your main jobs is to make sure that your pastors are provided for. So that, they can focus
on teaching God’s Word to the Church of Jesus Christ. So that altogether, as we serve
one another, the world can experience the love of Jesus Christ through the Church of
Jesus Christ. As we serve one another- whether it’s as people who are teaching God’s
Word or people giving material things to one another- we are to do this not as a ‘oh I am
giving money’ but with the right attitude that we are sharing the love of Jesus Christ to
one another through the means of these things. That’s what koninonia is to be shown
through visible things like this. Some of you may say, “Pastor Min, it doesn’t say
anything about money here.” That’s why I brought out a couple more verses of Paul’s
thoughts.
1 Corinthians 9: 11, 13-14
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If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things
from you?
It is the same sowing and reaping language that is used in verse 11. “If we have sown
spiritual things among you” meaning he is teaching the Word of God to the Church of
Jesus Christ. Sowing and reaping doesn’t just mean money but sowing and reaping means
much more than that as we will talk about in this passage in a different context. But he is
talking about material things here. He even goes deeper in 1 Corinthians 8: 13-14. He is
connecting Old Testament pattern to the New Testament pattern. The Old Testament
pattern in verse 13 and the New Testament pattern in verse 14.
13
Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from
the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
Those who are employed there, it’s talking about Levites. The 12th tribe in the Israelites
were the Levites, the other 11 tribes had land that was allotted to them so they could work
in the field and get an income. But the Levites did not get land. They were to devote all
of their time in temple service. As they are to serve people, people were to work and they
were to serve the Levites through their tithing and the Levites were to live according to
that. Under that principle, verse 14, New Testament.
14
In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get
their living by the gospel.
“Those who proclaim the Gospel,” so these are the spiritual Levites, New Testament
Levites, full-time ministers who don’t have any other job but devoting their time to
ministry. A New Testament correlation is made clearly through this passage. Martin
Luther understood how important a command it was to support the pastors. Some
commentators translate it to ‘pay the pastors.’ I think the idea is a proportion of givingpeople in the church give tithes so that the pastors can live at an about equal of the
average congregants seems to be in view. Basically this passage is saying to serve one
another and show those things through koinonia- fellowship of godhead- with another,
but invest in the Word of God both individually and as a church. You have to see how
important it is to learn how to sow through the teachers in the body of Christ.
II. What to sow [7] – The Word
7
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
This is a great principle of sowing and reaping. This is stated in an epigrammatic form in verse
7- what you sow, you reap.
A. What is to be sown? [6]
But this is in the context of verse 6.
6
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
Notice it doesn’t say, “the one who is shepherded” but “the one who is taught.”
Specifically Paul had the Word of God in mind. What is to be sown? The Word of God,
the Bible.
B. Why should it be sown?
Because it says, “do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” When it says, “do not be
deceived,” many in the Galatian church were deceived by false teachers. do not be
deceived by these false teachers who preach the wrong gospel, the wrong Word of God,
wrong Scripture. Spiritually speaking, if you eat fatty food, you’ll have a poor heart. If
you have bad Word in your heart, you will have a bad nature, that’s what he’s saying.
“God is not mocked.” What does that mean? The word mocked is derived from the word
nose, meaning literally to turn up the nose at somebody, to sneer, or treat with contempt.
It can signify to fool or outwit. So you live however you want and you are mocking God.
God has this immutable law planted that says, ‘whatever you sow, you reap.’ We live
however we want but we want to reap something good for us. We live however we want
that is destroying our lives. We are against God’s Word, but we still want to reap
something like happiness or good things in our lives… What this passage is saying is that
God is not mocked- you cannot fool God. God has planted this immutable law of you
reap spiritual things, you grow spiritually; you reap sinful things, you grow sinfully and
it’s going to destroy your life.
That’s why verse 7 says, “whatever one sows, that he will also reap.” It is an agricultural
illustration. What he’s saying is not the reapers who decide what the harvest is going to
be like but the sowers. Meaning what you sow is important. We are all sowing now and
will reap one day, spiritually in our hearts and in our lives.
The heart is made in such a way that God has planted this law. Plants need sunlight and
animals need food right? The heart needs the Word of God. If the Word of God is sown
in your heart, you become something. What do you become like? Jesus said, the law and
the prophets, - He’s taking about Scripture and the Old Testament- is about me- the
whole Bible is about Jesus. So when the Word of God goes in, we become something- we
become like Jesus. Plant the Word and you become like Jesus, you think like Jesus, love
like Jesus, become like Jesus, desire like Jesus. But it takes time for a seed to bear fruit.
There is always a time-lapse between sowing and reaping. The Holy Spirit uses the Word
to change the heart, but it takes time.
Sometimes, I try to type the sermon manuscript onto my iPad. And sometimes, I type the
wrong thing, like ‘God is mocked’ instead of ‘God is not mocked’ and you blame
somebody. You can’t blame anyone- you didn’t type it! That’s just how it is. We are like
that- there are always consequences to how we live, what we do, what we think in our
lives. We need the Word of God- we need to grow in our spiritual lives to a point where it
becomes our philosophy, principle, wisdom in our lives so that we can restore other
people. In the heart, we need to plant God’s Word. And with other people, we need Word
fellowship like you do in small groups. We need Word ministry because you’re not going
to study as much unless you’re teaching and sharing it. Whether it’s a discipleship group
or you’re leading Bible study. If you’re doing some sort of Word ministry, you’re just
going to grow more, that’s just how it is. When you choose a church in the future, I pray
that you will choose a church that will preach the Bible. I’m not talking about someone
who will just open and use the Bible, and read the Bible, but really getting all the
thoughts from the Bible so that the whole church is run according to the Word of God.
Often church depends on programs and other things, but unless the church is built on the
foundation of God’s Word, it’s not going to grow strong. It’s not going to be stable, it’s
not going to help people to grow, it’s not going to make an impact in the world, that’s just
how it is. As deep as the Word is the spirituality of the person; as deep as the Word is the
spirituality of the Church of Jesus Christ.
III. Where to sow [8] – In the spiritual nature
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For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows
to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Flesh and the Spirit- two places to sow. He moves from what to sow to where to sow it, that
means we have a choice between sowing in the fleshly nature or the spiritual nature in our hearts.
He’s reverting back to the theme of flesh and the Spirit back in Galatians 5: 16-25- the passage
about the battle between the Spirit and flesh. There in Galatians 5, the heart is likened to a
battlefield. The flesh and the Spirit are 2 components in war with each other upon it. But here in
Galatians 6, the heart is like a country estate- the flesh and the Spirit are 2 fields on which we
may sow seeds.
A. Sowing to the flesh “sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption”
Every time we allow our minds to harbor grudge, nurse grievances, entertain our fantasy,
wallow in self-pity, we are sowing in flesh. Me, me, me, my pleasure, my glory, my
avoidance of pain, my fear. Every time we linger in bad company of those insidious
influences that we know we cannot resist. Every time we lie in bed, we ought to be
thinking about different things. But we think about wrong things, sinful thoughts you are
sowing in your flesh. Every time we take risks that strain our self-control, you know your
weakness and you’re still lingering around there, licking on the bait knowing you can be
caught… we are sowing in the flesh. The result as we keep sowing in the flesh is that we
become either legalists or libertines. Whether you are doing whatever you want in sin as a
libertine. Or even if you’re doing the church-y or spiritual things, becoming a legalist.
You may be doing a quiet time, but you can be not understanding the Scripture or not
having the right attitude in your heart. The Word is not going into your heart and certain
period of time as that happens, you are becoming a spiritual legalist- serving in the
church and doing things with the wrong thoughts, and you become bitter. Bitterness at
other people may exceed your joy in serving the Lord. Or after a while you may fall off
or you may be doing those church-y things in the realm of church and small group but
you have secret pleasures you escape to, becoming a libertine in your secret life. Or you
become a hypocrite, you look good but a secret libertine heart- sinful thoughts in your
mind. Different kinds of things happen unless you sow in the Spirit. It’s all because
you’re sowing in the flesh rather than sowing in the Spirit.
Sometimes in life you can be both- a mixture. Sometimes there can be a period that
you’re more of this than that. Sometimes you’re more of a libertine- out. Sometimes
you’re more of a legalist- doing all the things with bitterness; without joy or love. It’s all
that kind of planting or sowing in your flesh. The Scripture says that if you continuously
do that it will lead you to corruption. It could be translated as destruction or
disintegration. What you ought to be is Christ-like, but slowly it’s corrupting you. You’re
being fractured in your bones. You’re not being the person you need to be in your
Christian life. Some Christians sow to their flesh everyday and wonder why they do not
reap holiness. You need to sow the right things in your heart. You have to ceaselessly
make an effort to sow grace in your heart.
This is different than merely giving our own effort. Some of you will make it a law and
try to do things. It shows our choice, so we do have to make an effort and we are still
responsible for our choice. But the choice is not so that we can do things but the choice is
so that we can depend on the Lord. Effort to depend not accomplish by your strength but
invest in all your choices so that you can receive God’s grace. As you receive His grace,
by His power, by His strength you can do everything. Holiness is a harvest, whether we
reap it or not depends almost entirely on the grace through what and where we sow
because God is not mocked. One of the best ways to do that, to sow in your Spirit, is to
make sure you’re not sowing in the flesh. There is a correlation.
B. Sowing to the spirit “Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
The second part of that is that we need to sow in the Spirit. In your Spirit, you can plant
things so that Holy Spirit can use those things. Holy Spirit can use the Word in your spirit
so that He can help you to grow. So that there is sowing in the Spirit. We can do that
through our thoughts, deeds in our lives. We are to foster disciplined habits of devotion,
privately and publically. In daily prayer and Bible reading and worship with the Lord’s
people on the Lord’s day as you come here on Sundays. All this sowing to the Spirit,
without it there can be no harvest of the Spirit. Holy Spirit will not use your other
thoughts, but the Holy Spirit will use the Word of God. As you pray, your heart is
softened to receive God’s Word and the Holy Spirit uses those things so you can bear the
fruit of the Holy Spirit.
First, we need to say no to our fleshly sowing so that we can say yes to the spiritual
sowing. We must ruthlessly eliminate the flesh and concentrate our time and energy into
the spirit. It is a way of saying as in Galatians 5 that we must crucify the flesh- no- and
then walk by the Spirit- yes to your spiritual nature. There is no other way to grow in
your spiritual life. That means these times of choices so complex in your life demands
wisdom. Investing wisely, spending time wisely to grow, investing in the right things. It
shows our responsibility. God’s grace is going to grow and overflow in our lives. It takes
our own responsibility because we have choices in our lives. That means we are not
helpless victims of our nature, temperament, environment, because we have a spiritual
nature. On the contrary, we become dependent larger in how we behave. Our character is
shaped by our conduct- what we invest our time to; we devote our time to the Word and
prayer in our lives.
So according to Galatians 5, the Christian duty is to walk by the Spirit and the Holy Spirit
helps us to live. According to Galatians 6- sow to the Spirit. We have the responsibility
so that the Holy Spirit can use the Word that is planted in our minds and hearts so it can
help us to grow so we can glow and overflow. Invest in the right things. I know some of
you are thinking, ‘Pastor Min, I tried this and it didn’t work.’ Keep going. You are like a
little kid- you sow and then you think you’re going to reap the fruit the same day. It takes
time, just keep sowing and God’s going to use it.
I remember when I was in high school. You know, in high school, you go through ups
and downs in your Christian life. When you’re high, you go, ‘Lord! I want to go to
China. For the glory of God. I want to go to Africa.’ And when you’re down, ‘Am I a
Christian?’ Those ups and downs. There was a time when I was up in my spiritual life, I
was so on fire, I don’t know what happened, I was so on fire. I wanted to go to church
and pray all night. I didn’t want to go alone because sometimes you get scared when you
hear noises… so I took my friend. I said, “Let’s go to church and pray.” We talked to our
parents and our pastor and got a key to the church and we were going to pray all night. A
goal of that night was I want to pray, because I love God so much, I really want to see
God literally. We were stupid, but we were pure. I told my friend, “We’re going to pray
until we see God and we’re not going to leave the church.” So we prayed and sang
praises. Praying, singing, closing our eyes, and every now and then opening our eyes to
see if God was there. And then I heard from this Korean evangelist to pray as you pull
trees, and if you pull the tree then your prayer will be answered. So I went outside and
pulled a tree. I am thankful to the Lord that I wasn’t able to pull it, otherwise I would’ve
been dead. I just remember praying all night. I don’t exactly remember what happened,
we probably fell asleep in the middle of the night and went home. What a useless night,
huh? We prayed and we couldn’t even see God. But I think about it now, there have been
several of those moments- many nights like that in my spiritual life. I never saw God
literally. Was it useless? No, because right now, and this is my honest view, I see you all
but I really see God. Even though I don’t see him physically, I am more sure God is here
than you are here. I am more sure that God is right here blessing than I see you
physically. I realized one day, it’s because I hungered and prayed. Even though it took
time, He did not show me visibly but I can see Him spiritually now. It takes time to bear
fruit. Present vision was caused by past hunger, and probably future vision will be caused
by present sowing in our lives. So do not be discouraged and keep on sowing, amen?
Keep on sowing. It is going to bear fruit, it is the immutable law of God. Keep sowing
whatever you need to sow- the Word, prayer- it’s going to reap benefits in different ways
and different aspects in your life. Your heart’s going to change and you’re going to
become a different person. One second of real encounter and real sowing will bear fruit in
your life. I love this quote, “sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a
habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” Whether you become a judge or
a burglar depends on what you sow in your life.
IV. How long we should persevere after sowing [9] – until you see the fruit of the likeness of
Jesus
We go through ups and downs in our spiritual life- those emotional moments. But there will be
moments where the thrill will be gone. What do we do? This verse helps us:
9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
A. We grow weary in everything we do “And let us not grow weary”
There are things we grow weary in, and it’s okay to quit sometimes. But there are things
that we grow weary in that we should always still persevere. You keep losing, you can
quit video games, that’s a good thing. But the Word of God, you can’t quit. You have to
keep on persevering. Pain will come in life, pleasure will wane. No matter what food you
like, there will be moments you’re sick and tired of it. That you can change, but you
cannot change what goes into your mind. You cannot change what is planted into your
heart. Don’t quit on the Word of God or prayer.
B. We should persevere in doing good “And let us not grow weary of doing good”
That doesn’t mean you cannot stop anything or everything. There are times you need to
stop something. There are times you even need to stop your job and change to another
job. You should rarely do that but there may a possibility that you need to do that because
God is calling you to do something. But there are things you know that are good and you
are doing the right thing, then you need to persevere no matter what happens.
C. Until we reap “for in due season we will reap”
If it’s a right thing, if it’s what the Scripture says, if it’s something that is good, keep
going until you reap fruit. Because there is always purpose when God commands you to
do something. There is always a purpose and a goal to the good things we do in life. It’s
going to produce fruit in us or other people that leads to the glory of God. Likeness of
Jesus will be born in you, in others that leads to the glory of God. Heart takes time to bear
fruit, you cannot microwave heart. Seeds sown takes time, but the fruit is worthwhile. It
is eternally powerful in your life. We should grow weary in everything we do, but we
should persevere in doing what is right until we reap.
D. We should not quit “if we do not give up.”
Persevere in some things in life and don’t give up. There is always a delay between
sowing and reaping, always. Inexperienced farmers may stop watering due to unseen
fruit. One may not persevere in waiting for the fruit of the Word in heart or even as they
minister to other people. There are pastors that ask me for counseling. They ask me,
“How do you help people to grow and increase the people that come to church. I tell
them, “This is how you run your church. Keep preaching God’s Word, keep praying, fast,
live and die for Jesus. Don’t rely on programs, don’t rely on fluffy experiences. Keep
preaching God’s Word, keep helping them to pray, keep helping them to repent. You
know what happens? They do it for a while and then they quit and go to something else
that is more exciting that will draw more people. They quit watering and planting the
seed. Keep persevering.
People ask me, “Pastor Min, have you ever wanted to quit?” The right question is, have I
ever not wanted to quit? But I believe Paul wanted to quit. How do I know? Verse 9 says,
“let us not grow weary in doing good.” That’s why it says, if we do not give up. I believe
Paul many times wanted to quit. The change of the first person plural changes this
supposition that I’m talking about. Learn to overcome discouragement. Don’t be
discouraged in wanting to quit. Learn to overcome discouragement through perseverance.
The worst thing about discouragement is that we quit. When we quit, we cannot bear the
fruit of our labor, then we cannot grow in our character. Everything worthwhile takes
time to produce. When we cannot see the visible fruit, invisible character is produced
when we persevere so keep on going.
At our church, there is a culture of fasting. I pray that you will learn to fast. Some of you
say, “Oh, that’s just a CFC thing. Oh, it’s just a Korean thing.” I can tell you Bible verses
how often Jesus fasted in Scripture. I’ve had a habit of fasting for the past 30 years. The
first 13 years, I fasted maybe one day a week from college years and into ministry. I still
do it because that’s what the Bible says. I really didn’t know the benefit of fasting until
the Lord convicted me one day in my morning prayer, “your heart is so filthy that you
even need to fast 2 days a week.” I didn’t hear the audible voice. So I said, this must be
from something- indigestion or emotion so I didn’t do it. But the Lord kept pounding me
on it, so okay, 2 days. If I’m preaching 2 days so I fasted 2 days a week. Then I realized
the benefit of fasting, my goodness. When I started to fast 2 days a week, I realized how
empty my heart is. It’s not just during the fasting, I’m miserable and thinking about food
just like you and everything looks like food. But afterwards after I fast and I study the
Bible, because my heart is so hungry, I get addicted to the spiritual food. As I enjoy it, I
realize, this is why I have to fast. I’m not telling everyone to fast 2 days but learn to fast
and enjoy the benefit of fasting afterwards.
There are so many things in life- some people are about praying, some people are about
the Word. When you know it’s the right thing, keep persevering. You will reap benefit,
fruit in your life. Don’t quit if they are the right things to do.
V. How wide we should sow [10] – church and community
The Word sown in your heart will show in the fruit of generosity in your hands.
10
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of
the household of faith.
The Word of God is shown which transforms and changes our hearts- prayers, fruit. When we
give and use our monetary things, we show to other people the fruit of Holy Spirit, Christ-like
character, generosity, all of that is shown through what we do through our lives. Especially those
who are of the household of the faith.
A. An opportunity to do good
The word here is kairos, which is an opportunity- the right time, proper moment. Often
when that word is used, it is an opportune moment to redeem. Opportune moment to
serve God. When you have opportunity to be generous, it is saying, do it. Two
conditions- you have to have resources and money and you see a need, then show that.
Redeem that moment. If there is a chance to show the love of Jesus Christ and the power
of God, then do it.
B. Do good to all men – community
Talking about the world, the unbelievers in the world that need to see God. How can they
see God? Through generous people. Just like God gives us grace and His life, not only
His money, food, and everything we need but spiritual food- Jesus Christ, blood of Jesus
Christ, forgiveness. God is always giving to us while He does not need anything from us.
So, it’s saying, do that to everyone so they can see the invisible God through visible
giving, visible hands. Unbelieving world, generous hand of God will show Christ to
them.
Because I believe when Paul says, “do good,” he means material things. We talk about
this need that Galatian church had- many were famine stricken in Judea. In Galatians 2:
10 we talked about this. Paul had these things in mind- so many people were in need
during that time. Just like if we were to live in Syria or a place with famine or tornado or
monsoon. Different kinds of things have hurt the community and we have resources, so
we should take those opportunities so that as we share the goods with the needy that will
show the love of Jesus Christ through us. That’s what this passage is saying.
Galatians 2: 10
10
Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
C. Especially to the household of faith – church
But there is a priority. So it does say that you need to give material things to the needy, to
the unbelievers, but it says priority especially to those who are in the house of faith in the
Church of Jesus Christ.
So why to believers if they are in need? First, because glory of God is at stake.
Proverbs 30: 8-9
8
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9
lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
“Give me neither poverty nor riches,” don’t make me rich, don’t make me poor. “Feed
me with the food that is needful for me,” help me to live according to my needs, help me
to live with necessity. Verse 9 says, “lest I be full and deny you,” if I am rich, I will be so
in luxury and misusing those things and I will deny you, “Who is the Lord?” Or, “lest I
be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” This does not mean that you cannot
become rich, this just means you cannot live like the rich. You can live with necessities
but make sure if you have more, you share. If you are in need, pray to God and of course
God will provide often through the means of other people who are believers in Jesus
Christ. What this is saying is, live with necessity and share everything you have or be
ready to share everything you have so that you can show the generous hand of our God.
Some priority of generosity in context of the Scripture. Who should we give our money
to if we have extra money?
1. Teachers
Teachers in the body of Christ. Meaning tithing, providing to the needs of the people who
are teaching God’s Word so they can strengthen the body of Christ, strengthen the
Church of Christ, expanding the kingdom. Especially first and foremost, your own church
and then of course other ministers or other teachers of God’s Word in other parts of the
world. Because if they cannot be provided, it’s going to hinder their ministry to the Word
and those churches will not be able to expand God’s kingdom in that region.
Especially first and foremost wherever you go, all of us who will be church members,
pay your tithe to your own church so the ministers in your church can be provided for.
And then you can think about other priorities- different ministries or different parts of the
world.
2. Christians
Your own church members first then other believers. Why other believers? Because if
they are in need, they cannot minister to other people. If other Christians, especially in
our church. And then of course, other believers in other churches. We provide for them so
that they would be ministering to other people. They would not devote all their time to
meet their needs. Not only to have time to minister to other people but if they have
material goods, they can share that to minister to other people.
Often, same principle applies to providing for organizations. If we are to send money to
different countries that are poverty-stricken or have had a tragedy. We wouldn’t just send
money to any organization just so they can provide money to them, but we will send
money to Christian organizations there or Christians. Because as they give, they can build
relationships and minister to other people so that they would not just give them monetary
gifts but spiritual food- what they need in eternal life.
3. Others who are in need
Unbelievers so that through your own hands, if you have leftover, as you give to them
you build relationships or they’ll see the love of Jesus Christ through you. We should be
generous people, just in general. Even in small ways, not just in helping people that are
hungry, but in ordinary moments in life be generous people so that you can show the
generous hand of God to other people.
We are called to be generous people- live with necessity. First to the teachers, then to
Christians, then to other people who are surrounding us. Christianity is not just about
meetings only but meeting the needs of others. Doing good and giving to others what is
best for them. Of course, starting with monetary and physical needs and using that to give
them what is eternally beneficial for them- spiritual needs for the glory of God.
We have 6 full-time ministers in our church. What we have decided as we prayerfully
thought and decided, is that we would get what we minimally need. We gathered
together- what do you need? We get what we need, so it’s not that much. Other than
myself, these guys can go somewhere else and get a lot more salary than what our church
gives. We receive what is necessary in our lives. When a lot of these pastors meet with
many of you, they don’t have enough money to pay for these meals all the time.
Otherwise it would be hundreds of dollars just for a week. So I don’t know if you know
but the policy is, when you meet a pastor, please pay for them if you can. If it is possible.
I know there are some poor guys in our church but if you really can’t pay for them, just
meet them over coffee or water, that’s okay. If you’re meeting them for something, our
policy is they’re giving their time and they don’t have money to pay for even their own
meals in a restaurant so please pay for them.
Learn to do your responsibility as a church member in the future and now. It’s not just
about money but there are many ways you can be generous- the serving hand of God.
Sometimes you’re afraid, should I give? But if it is possible, cease that moment and
opportunity to serve. The last few trips, in the airplane as I am getting on, and then
there’s a lady about to put her bag up and she always has a tough time. I cease that
opportunity to help them to get their bag up because they don’t have strength to do that.
One time I tried to do that, a lady yelled at me saying she could do it herself. Next time, I
was afraid but I still do it. Why? Because, even though some people yell at me and don’t
want my help, most people do. So to most people, I can show the love of Christ. Our
desire to provide for others must exceed our desire to protect ourselves. Cease the
moment and serve. Often when I go to hotels, all these ladies are serving, I usually leave
tips. Especially when it’s a Christian conference because most Christians are stingy. I
make sure to leave tips and if I see them personally walking by, I give it to them with my
hand so that they will know. They say thank you and I say, “No, thank you. Thank you
for serving me. It’s just a small thing I can do.” Different ways, it’s not just money but
through our smile. Just give, have this propensity to give, love. Give it away. Don’t keep
it to yourself, don’t protect yourself, provide for others for the glory of God.
Conclusion
Few days ago, I was in a hotel and they were cooking breakfast. This lady was making omelets
and I don’t have to pay for that. This lady was so joyfully serving. When I was walking out I told
her, “Thank you for that fantastic omelet!” and I was eating with a pastor and I sat down. The
next day, I came late. This lady saw the other pastor and she goes, “Where’s your partner?” So
she was looking for me, because she remembered that it made her day. When I showed up, it
made her so happy. Just give, it doesn’t take that much. Whether it’s words, energy, money,
whatever it is. Show whatever God has poured into your heart. Overflow with other people.
I build relationships with Chinese restaurant owners and servers because those are just the people
I meet and encounter every day. I remember one time many years ago, there was this server who
came from China. His son was in China. We had conversations all the time. I always left a tip.
One day he was going to China, and said, “I’m not going to see you for a while. I’m going to
visit my son in China.” So I was walking and my heart was so moved, I went back and gave him
one $20 bill. And then he ran out afterwards and goes, “You are so nice to me. Why are you so
nice to me?” He knows I’m a pastor. After that, he was able to invite his son through some kind
of international ministry to a bible study. I don’t know if my interaction with him was the cause,
but so many Christians they encountered, he experienced the love of Jesus Christ. So many of
you do that for me as well as our pastors. Many of you pay for my coffee or my meal. When I
see a CFC church member at a restaurant, the workers go, “Somebody paid for you.” The
workers were so moved by something like that. That does a few things. Because that person saw
the love of Jesus Christ through whoever paid but also I can build a relationship with them so
that I can minister to them after them. So many good things happen when we are generous
together. Just love people, serve people, I think that’s what this passage is about. Word in so that
you can give them the Word of God to restore them. Word in, through everything you do, show
the love of Jesus Christ to your generous life and He will use you for His glory.