(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to
each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted.)
We all have preferences about how we would like things to be, whether at home, at work, or at school.
In many of the letters Paul writes, he addresses problems the church is facing. In Galatia, the congregation is struggling with an important doctrinal issue, whether a person is justified by faith in God or by works for God. Paul states repeatedly in this epistle that God's declaration of righteousness is not something a Christian can earn.
VII. The Foremost Communion1
...which reflects...
There is a limit to the amount of physical activity a person can do before he becomes fatigued and must rest. As he gets older, the amount he can do decreases, and the time he needs to rest increases. Paul is not referring here to that kind of fatigue, although doing good can certainly entail what is physically taxing. He means the mental and emotional weariness that often accompanies an activity for which there is no recognition or sense of gratification, no encouragement to go on. You may know it is the right thing to do, but if you did not do it or stopped doing it, no one would notice or care. At least, that is how it seems.
Notice that Paul does not quantify the "good" his readers should do. He does not say, "Do good if it's something really important—or—if it'll make a big difference." He makes no reference to the size or significance of the deed. Apparently, action, whether little or much, is more important than non-action, as is the reason you do it. So, he states elsewhere...
Still, the challenge for the Galatians, and the challenge for many Christians, is not that they might do nothing good but that the good they do would be shortlived.3 Should they meet resistance or grow tired or not feel sufficiently appreciated, they might give up. That is what Paul wants his readers, including you, to avoid. This is an important point, one he makes here and reiterates elsewhere. In...
1. Your benevolence should be tireless.
and "at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."4
What might cause you to give up doing good, not entirely but occasionally?
...Two possibilities come to mind. One cause is ridicule:
Opportunities to do good are endless, as are the calls for help. Should a Christian respond to every appeal, every need that arises? Is there any limit to the admonition Paul gives in v. 9, a way to concentrate your efforts and make them most productive for God and most pleasing to God? ... Indeed there is, as Paul makes clear in v. 10.
2. Your benevolence should be targeted.
"...to those who belong to the family of believers," not exclusively so but primarily so.6
This narrows the scope of your responsibilities considerably, and it is not something the apostle developed just for the church in Galatia. It has been the standing policy for generations of God's people.7
While the Lord is concerned for all people,12 He exhibits a particular care for His people (Jews and gentiles), for those who recognize Him as their God, and His instructions to them are similar. Whereas we should not be indifferent to the needs of those outside the believing community, we must demonstrate our chief concern and care for those inside that community. That is The Foremost Communion and is the preference of God.
Having considered The Foremost Communion, we will look next at The Foremost Companion, which is embodied in the promise of God, as the prophet Isaiah states in chapter 43:1-2.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources manager asked a young engineer fresh out of MIT, "What starting salary are you looking for?" Confident that the interview had gone well, the young engineer said, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package." The interviewer replied, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5-weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental coverage, a matching retirement fund to 50% of your salary, and a new company car leased every two years, say, a red Corvette?" The young engineer sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?" The interviewer replied, "Yes...but you started it."We all have preferences, ideas about how we would like things to be. God also has ideas about how He would like things to be. The difference between His preferences and our preferences is that His are never unrealistic.
In many of the letters Paul writes, he addresses problems the church is facing. In Galatia, the congregation is struggling with an important doctrinal issue, whether a person is justified by faith in God or by works for God. Paul states repeatedly in this epistle that God's declaration of righteousness is not something a Christian can earn.
Gal 2:16 ...a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ....by observing the law no one will be justified.Good works, which is what obedience to God's law produces, play no role in establishing a relationship with God. They do play a role, however, in maintaining and developing that relationship, as Paul explains later in the letter, including the way we relate to others, especially other believers. This is...
VII. The Foremost Communion1
...which reflects...
- The preference of God (Gal 6:9-10)
Gal 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. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
There is a limit to the amount of physical activity a person can do before he becomes fatigued and must rest. As he gets older, the amount he can do decreases, and the time he needs to rest increases. Paul is not referring here to that kind of fatigue, although doing good can certainly entail what is physically taxing. He means the mental and emotional weariness that often accompanies an activity for which there is no recognition or sense of gratification, no encouragement to go on. You may know it is the right thing to do, but if you did not do it or stopped doing it, no one would notice or care. At least, that is how it seems.
- It may be babysitting for a mother so she can go grocery shopping or just have a break.
- It may be weeding the garden or shoveling the snow for someone who is unable to do it.
- It may be visiting or corresponding with someone in a nursing home whom others have forgotten.
- It may be encouraging a child by what you say or do that shows him someone notices and cares about him.
Notice that Paul does not quantify the "good" his readers should do. He does not say, "Do good if it's something really important—or—if it'll make a big difference." He makes no reference to the size or significance of the deed. Apparently, action, whether little or much, is more important than non-action, as is the reason you do it. So, he states elsewhere...
1 Cor 10:31b ...whatever you do [whether large or small], do it all for the glory of God.
Col 3:17 ...whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus....In other words, equally important to what you do—perhaps more important than what you do— is why you do it. Is it to draw attention to yourself or direct attention to God?2
Still, the challenge for the Galatians, and the challenge for many Christians, is not that they might do nothing good but that the good they do would be shortlived.3 Should they meet resistance or grow tired or not feel sufficiently appreciated, they might give up. That is what Paul wants his readers, including you, to avoid. This is an important point, one he makes here and reiterates elsewhere. In...
1 Cor 15:58c Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
2 Thess 3:13 ...never tire of doing what is right.When it comes to doing good...
1. Your benevolence should be tireless.
and "at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."4
What might cause you to give up doing good, not entirely but occasionally?
...Two possibilities come to mind. One cause is ridicule:
- You are pressured by another's negative assessment.
How stupid can you be? Only a fool would help that person. He's a lost cause.
Another cause is reason—your reason, the argument you use to talk yourself out of it:After hearing such ridicule, especially if it comes from more than one individual, you may decide the action is not worth the aggravation of listening to that criticism, and you give up.
- You are persuaded by your own negative assessment.
Since I started, there's been no improvement in the situation and very little thanks. I'm not really helping matters.
Paul counsels his readers not to be short-sighted and do only what is easy or has some immediate benefit. Dealing with a similar matter, the author of Hebrews offers his readers this encouragement...5After that rationalization, you decide the endeavor is not worth the effort, and you give up.
Heb 12:3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.Whether pressured or persuaded to give up, when you need encouragement to continue "doing good," remember Jesus. Like his benevolence, your benevolence should be tireless.
Opportunities to do good are endless, as are the calls for help. Should a Christian respond to every appeal, every need that arises? Is there any limit to the admonition Paul gives in v. 9, a way to concentrate your efforts and make them most productive for God and most pleasing to God? ... Indeed there is, as Paul makes clear in v. 10.
2. Your benevolence should be targeted.
"...to those who belong to the family of believers," not exclusively so but primarily so.6
This narrows the scope of your responsibilities considerably, and it is not something the apostle developed just for the church in Galatia. It has been the standing policy for generations of God's people.7
- Moses instructed the Israelites to treat foreigners in their midst with kindness8 but give preference to those in the covenant community. The laws governing interpersonal relations are replete with terms like "your countrymen," "your people," "your brother." What came to be known as the second greatest commandment— "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39; cf. Gal 5:14)—was not given as a universal norm but formulated to govern relations within the covenant community.
- Jesus instructed the disciples to treat even their enemies with kindness9 but give preference to fellow disciples.
John 13:35 [Jesus said,] By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
This is a command New Testament writers direct to all Christians.10
1 Pet 2:17b [Peter said,] Love the brotherhood of believers....
- Paul instructed his readers to treat pagans with kindness but give preference to those in the church community,11 which he highlighted using several reciprocal ("one another") commands.
Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another.... Honor one another.... 16a Live in harmony with one another.
Rom 13:8b ...love one another....You are not responsible for the whole world, and God does not expect you to meet every need that comes to your attention. You should not ignore what lies outside the believing community, but you should focus your efforts on meeting what needs you can among the faithful. You have a responsibility toward God's people greater than your responsibility toward other people, those who do not belong to Him.
1 Thess 5:15b ...always try to be kind to each other [...] and to everyone else.Your benevolence should be targeted.
While the Lord is concerned for all people,12 He exhibits a particular care for His people (Jews and gentiles), for those who recognize Him as their God, and His instructions to them are similar. Whereas we should not be indifferent to the needs of those outside the believing community, we must demonstrate our chief concern and care for those inside that community. That is The Foremost Communion and is the preference of God.
Having considered The Foremost Communion, we will look next at The Foremost Companion, which is embodied in the promise of God, as the prophet Isaiah states in chapter 43:1-2.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.
(This sermon is part of Dr. Manuel's sermon series: "What is Foremost?" Links to each of the sermons in the series will be found here as they are posted)
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Jim Skaggs