PONDERING... Will You Persevere? (Galatians 6:7-10)

Will You Persevere?

GIST: The harvest is worth the hardship, so don’t grow weary of doing good.

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 6:7-10

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 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. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Right after Mother’s Day, we began a series on living in the face of trials. I have gotten a lot out of these passages, and pray they have worked in your hearts, as well. Today, we’re coming to the end of that brief study. This morning, we’re going to look at the next part of the Galatians 6 passage which talks about our need to persevere in the face of trials. Then tonight, we’ll take a closer look at what this will actually look like in practice, as we consider the second half of 3 John. After that, you’ll have a break from me for two weeks :D. Nonetheless, please know my family will be praying for you guys while we’re gone. Part of that prayer? That in all things, you persevere. And that’s the gist today: The harvest is worth the hardship, so don’t grow weary of doing good.

1. THE HARVEST IS WORTH THE HARDSHIP

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 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.

You cannot fool God. In the most immediate context, Paul has just talked to them about the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh, or sin. These lists might be familiar, and we don’t have time this morning to look at them in detail, but let’s just get a refresher on what they are.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

-Galatians 5:19-25

So, after describing the difference between a life lived for God (in the Spirit) and one lived for sin/self (in the flesh), he tells his readers to live in the Spirit. Then, he starts talking about what that will look like. Last week, we saw that that involves living upright as a humble and devoted servant to Jesus and carrying one another’s burdens. Here we’re told it involves sowing the right seeds. But before he gets into that, he starts with the serious reminder that God is not mocked; you cannot fool Him. His readers needed this reminder, and so do we. We can trick a lot of people into thinking we’re taking this Christian life seriously. We might even be able to trick ourselves. In fact, we kind of like to be self-deceived. It is easier to pretend than to face our failings head on. Nonetheless, despite your best efforts, you cannot fool God. He knows your heart. He knows what you’re sowing. And at the end of the day, it is only His opinion that matters.  

So, what do you sow? (See what I did there with the so’s :D). There are only two options. We either sow our own flesh or to the Spirit. We either feed our sinful desires--which is what the world around us, sadly, tells us we need--or we live like Jesus--who loves with joy, patience, and kindness, who is good and faithful, who demonstrated gentleness and self-control. The results are clearly stated here. Living for Jesus results in eternal life. Living for yourself, no matter how good it feels here, results in corruption, Hell.

Now, let me be clear here. These aren’t just moral actions we’re asked to start doing. Christianity isn’t about doing the right things, and then getting into Heaven on the basis of your own merits. Sowing to the Spirit, means living for Jesus in such a way that you let Him transform your life. When you’re saved, you give Him control. When you continue walking under that gracious leadership, you’ll be changed. The more time you spend with Him--reading His word, speaking to Him in prayer, being about His work of sharing Jesus with the world--the more these fruits of the Spirit will start blooming in your life.

Benjamin Franklin, in his Autobiography, chronicled how he basically tried doing this without Jesus. He had no interest in following Christ; he just wanted to have a good character. So he came up with 13 virtues and a checklist. He would work exclusively on one virtue at a time until he’d mastered it, checking off his day’s progress every evening, then move on to the next. He assumed that with deliberate effort, he could master a virtue per week and, therefore, be virtuous in thirteen weeks. After several years, he never made it past the third virtue, and this not without relapsing on the first two. He couldn’t do it, so determined it was just not meant to be done. If we try to just do good stuff in our own strength, we’ll find the same. But that was never God’s intention. We are to be so transformed by our relationship with Him, that we do good, not out of obligation, but desire. It is that life-transforming salvation that leads to eternal life, not just doing good for our own vanity’s sake.

The cost is high, but worth it. I’ll be brief with this last point, but we have to hammer this down. Living this way will not be popular, and it won’t make hardships and trials go away. In fact, it will most often be the opposite.

“23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

“14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:14

“33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Oh, but it’s worth it. The result is eternal life with Jesus. And if we’re sowing in the Spirit, trusting Him for the results, it should change the way we look at these trials.

2. SO DON’T GROW WEARY OF DOING GOOD

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

This is really the point I want to remind us (because I need reminded of this daily) of most today. Simply put: in the face of trials, don’t give up. Now, I could very easily fall into the danger of sounding like a vague motivational speaker. So let’s break this down a little more concretely.

First, why would we grow weary? Paul puts this here on purpose. He knows it’s within our nature to despair of doing good. So, you’re not a lesser Christian because you sometimes feel this way. In fact, in some cases, those who never feel weary are those who are not doing anything in first place. It’s like me watching Mizzou basketball. I’m never as sweaty as the players afterwards. :D. And some church members can be like that, right? They come; they watch; but they don’t really do anything. It’s pretty easy not to feel tired after that kind of activity. But, that’s another topic for another day. The question here is, if we’re doing God’s will, why do we grow weary? I have heard, and given, many replies to this question. Here’s just a few.

1. So much to do, so little time.
2. So little gratitude from those we’re serving.
3. So much pressure to not. (That is either to just look out for self, or to wholeheartedly embrace sin).

What is at the core of these discouragements? Pride. Sin. Satan. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed or weary, but that does not make it good! We grow weary of doing good when we start to think our strength is sufficient for the task--but it’s not. It was never meant to be. We grow weary when we expect gratitude when Jesus told us to expect persecution. So this is not an encouragement not to give up that says, “Press on. You can do anything you set your mind to. Be the best you for the best results.” No, you can’t do this alone.

Second, why shouldn’t we grow weary?* I will try to be brief here. We can persevere in the midst of trials because...

1. We know Who called us.
1. We didn’t decide to do this Christian thing; we were saved by the marvelous grace of God. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) He started this. He’ll finish it.
2. We know the importance and truth of our work.
1. We know the world needs to hear the gospel, and should love them enough to care. There are two results, remember? Eternal life or corruption. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
3. We know the temporary nature of this life.
1. We will be with Jesus soon. Remember how I said I’m good with quoting the same verses over and over again… Here’s one: 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
4. We know a harvest is coming.
1. This promise is right here in the verse: for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Now, we may never see the harvest the way we’d like to. But, it is there. Ultimately, this harvest is fulfilled when we are with Jesus in Heaven as we were meant to be--conformed to His image, free from sin. However, I also believe this means there is a harvest here on earth. People will come to know Jesus if you are faithful to “...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) Is this the kind of harvest you’re looking for?

TAKEAWAYS:

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

1. Don’t give up; trust the God who never fails. It’s not about you. It’s for Him, and He can.
2. Take full advantage of the opportunities you’re given; they won’t last forever. Every day is a unique opportunity you’ll never get back. Man, I need to remember this.
3. Do good to everyone--especially other believers. This isn’t because we love Christians more, but “35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

This world can be hard, but the harvest is worth the hardship, so don’t grow weary of doing good.

RESOURCE:

*I am indebted to Alistair Begg’s exposition of 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (a parallel passage). I highly recommend checking into it!

A FEW QUOTES:

We meet with many unworthy and many ungrateful persons. The vast number of necessitous cases overwhelms us, and the applications which crowd upon us from every quarter exhaust our patience. Our warmth is abated by the coolness of other men. In short, the world presents innumerable hinderances, which tend to lead us aside from the right path. Most properly, therefore, does Paul admonish us not to relax through weariness. John Calvin

“10. While we have opportunity.” The metaphor is still pursued. Every season is not adapted to tillage and sowing. Active and prudent husbandmen will observe the proper season, and will not indolently allow it to pass unimproved. Since, therefore, God has set apart the whole of the present life for ploughing and sowing, let us avail ourselves of the season, lest, through our negligence, it may be taken out of our power.  John Calvin