Galatians 6:6-10
“Let the one who is taught the word share all good things
with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked,
for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 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. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the
household of faith.
(Galatians 6:6-10, ESV)”
Because you are a follower of Christ, and since you received
the free gift of life in the now, do you not have a desire to do good to the
household of faith? The question some
may be wondering is the teacher entitled to your good things? My neighbor Phil who is a “techie” person,
who is competent in technology, was at our house at my request. I was converting 35 slides to my computer and
had forgotten what Phil had shown me two months ago. So he was once again taking time out of his
schedule to instruct me, and did I tell you that Phil likes chocolate in most
forms, and as he was leaving Jan gives him my best, my favorite Lindt chocolate
candy, and some fresh made chocolate chip cookies, that is after he had robbed
the candy jar of some snickers. In jest
I said, Jan, Phil has his hands full of snickers candy you do not have to give
him the good stuff. Phil’s reply was
golden, he turned to me an ask, and “Do you want cheap instruction or the
best?”
When you, as a follow of Christ, go for spiritual instruction
what value are you putting on the one who is sharing his life with you, are you
looking for value, or is the cut-rate, the discounted teaching your
desire? The apostle Paul told the church
in Corinth the following; “If we have sown spiritual things among you,
is it too much if we reap material things from you?” (1 Corinthians 9:11) Paul does not stop but goes on to explain the
employees in the temple get their food from the temple and the one at the alter
share in the sacrificial offering. Then
Paul makes this statement; “In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who
proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” (1
Corinthians 9:14)
The reason we are ask to examine ourselves is that small
gods take hold of us, gods who have no authority, but they keep our focus on us
and away from God. As a member of the
body of Christ, His church, should we not look with joy at being a doer of the
word and not a hearer? “Do not be deceived: God is not
mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 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. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who
are of the household of faith.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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