What Is Your Heart Pursuing? (Galatians 6:7-10)

 VIDEO

What Is Your Heart Pursuing? (Galatians 6:7-10)

GIST: There are consequences for the lives we live, so we should persist in pursuing Jesus and His excellence.

   

    This morning we’re moving right along in our study of Galatians. I think we have two more sermons to go! (Of course, me thinking that now doesn’t mean too much ☺.) We’re picking up with the application portion. He’s talked about how grace will transform our lives personally by changing our hearts and creating in us the fruit of the Spirit. Then, we’ve spent the last few weeks looking at where Paul specifically tells us that lives transformed by grace will be lived in community. Two weeks ago, we looked at how this will lead to having hearts for restoring believers who have fallen into sin. Last week, we talked about how it will also lead to the mutual ministry of carrying one another’s burdens. Today, we’re coming to another broader application. Let’s look at verses 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.”

   

Paul’s hammering home several key truths here this morning. This faith he’s been talking about isn’t something we can fake. The change is either real or it’s not. But the end results of that reality are so wonderful that we don’t want to miss them. Here’s our gist: There are consequences for the lives we live, so we should persist in pursuing Jesus and His excellence.

I. There Are Consequences For The Lives We Live

Look again at verses 7-8. “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.” I have one major observation I want to break down from these verses: you can’t hide from this universal truth ☺. First, we have to notice→ 

You Can’t Hide. The implication here is: don’t try! Don’t try to fool yourself...which we do...and we can. But guys, that’s a dangerous place to be. If you try to convince yourself your faith is genuine when your heart is in no way being led by Jesus, you’re closing yourself off from real life-changing repentance and forgiveness by convincing yourself you don’t need it. If your life is still defined by doing what you want and pursuing whatever makes you feel good, you’re not following Jesus. Don’t try to fool yourself and→ 

You can’t fool God! He sees the heart. He knows the intention. You can’t hide from Him...and you shouldn’t want to. Guys, I want to make sure I say this here. This could definitely be taken very negatively. Like, you can run, but you can’t hide. God is going to get you eventually, so just give up! The picture here isn’t one of a vindictive God trying to smite you. The picture here is of a loving God coming to rescue you. You can try to deny your need for rescue all you want, but at the end of the day, He knows the truth and still loves you. That won’t change no matter how hard we run in the other direction. Why? Because you can’t hide→ 

From This Universal Truth. The core of this truth is reaping what you sow. I feel like I need to at least camp out here for a solid bit to make a few observations. First→ 

This is neither Karma nor Legalism. I think that’s important to point out because it’s easy to assume we’ve got a one-for-one kind of theology here. If I treat people well, they will treat me well. If I’m angry all the time, I’m going to make people angry. While in the most general of terms this is often true, we know it’s not always the case, and the truth here is far deeper than that. This is not about your behaviors earning you or not earning you “good things” or even Heaven. Instead→ 

This is a reality that tells us what you invest your life in will have results. I’m using the word invest intentionally here because we’re talking about lives being lived, not just isolated actions we perform. Therefore, investing in self—living your life for yourself and seeking after whatever brings you the most immediate pleasure—leads to corruption. This is the natural outworking of living for yourself. Investing in Jesus—which though it will work itself out in our lives as loving God and loving people starts with just surrendering our control back to Him and accepting His salvation— leads to eternal life from the Spirit. You don’t work your way into this! This is the natural result of letting Jesus change your life.

    This isn’t about fabricating specific behaviors. We’re talking about true heart pursuit, what you long for, what you chase after, who you are. So of course, sowing in this context is about feeding our hearts. Think about these two aspects at least for today:

1. What do you let into your heart? I know you probably think this is one of my soap boxes because I come back to it so often, but I really think it’s a ball we’ve dropped as Christians. Why don’t you see fruit in your life? Why don’t you feel bold in your witness? Why don’t you see changes in the way you love or treat others? What are you feeding your heart? No one wants to sacrifice their entertainment, but think about this. What shows are you watching? What books are you reading? What sites are you visiting? What conversations are you having with your friends? What perspectives are you letting pour into your heart? Because these will shape you and you won’t be more like Jesus by filling your heart with trash. I know that sounds so harsh, but guys, I love you and I don’t want us to make excuses for just doing what everyone else is doing when we know that won’t bring hope. I love how Paul puts it in Philippians 4:8: “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” What’s going into your heart?

2. What life choices do you make? We have to be careful not to take this out of the context of the letter. What has Paul just been talking about? He had just addressed the works of the flesh in the contrast with the fruit of the Spirit, so we see that we shouldn’t be walking toward sinful and destructive lifestyles, but instead should be turning to Him. Then, he just illustrated what that will, in part, look like and literally just told us to spend our time restoring fellow Christians who have been overtaken by sin and help carry each other’s burdens. Are you? Am I? Does this define us?

There are consequences for the lives we live→ 

II. So We Should Persist In Pursuing Jesus And His Excellence

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

Don’t Give Up. Let me just make a few observations here. First→ 

Weariness is natural, but not helpful or God honoring to remain in. Weariness is addressed all over the Bible. Jesus even calls the weary and heavy laden to come to Him and experience rest. You will get weary of doing good. It will sometimes seem like too much. That is natural. However, remaining in your weariness isn’t helpful, and it actually demonstrates an attitude that dishonors God. 

Let me just unpack that a bit. Weariness will keep you from being productive. It’s a great tool for distracting believers from what our lives are supposed to be about. If we’re so focused on our own weariness, we’re not focused on loving God and loving people. Furthermore, weariness forgets the bigger picture. When we allow weariness to take root, it’s really selfishness. We’re overwhelmed. We’re not getting the gratitude we think we deserve. We’re not seeing the results we want to see...etc. This forgets that our life isn’t about us. It’s about Him and people seeing Him. It’s about walking with the God whose love for us is unshaken by whatever is leading to our weariness. So here Paul tells us not to be weary because we will see the harvest in due season. Second observation→  

Due season is His time. We don’t like that because we know that might mean never seeing the harvest this side of Heaven, and it will always mean never seeing the whole picture this side of Heaven. Now, this doesn’t mean just keep doing whatever you’ve always done and calling it ministry even if it’s not actually helping anyone see Jesus more clearly. What it does mean is don’t stop pursuing His excellence because→ 

Will reap is a definite promise, and the context is eternal life. You will see a harvest, and in the context here we’re still talking about living lives that reap eternal life. Come to Jesus for salvation. Then, with that changed heart, pursue Jesus for the rest of your life. Let Him be the purpose of your life, and you will spend eternity with Him. Don’t give up, but→ 

Do Good. I know that seems like just a call to be moral people, but goodness is reflecting Jesus to the world. “10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” I have a few quick thoughts in this final verse, but let’s hit those in our→ 

TAKEAWAYS

1. Don’t try to fool yourself. Pursuing selfish desires leads to corruption.

2. Feed your heart the excellence of God.

3. Love those around you.

4. Take care of each other.

   
   

   
   
   
   

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