Let’s Stay in Step

January 8, 2024

Building People of Substance for Works of Power

Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.  7  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  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.  

Galatians 6:6-10 NIV

Between the bread of two exhortations to do good, Paul placed the meat of the eternal sandwich: You will reap what you sow! This verse changed my life in 1979. It’s the universal law of life that every major religion has recognized in some way. Even most street hustlers recognize that “what goes around comes around.” When I read this as a brand-new Christian, I knew that this Bible was inspired by the One who created the universe: the eternal author of sowing and reaping. He knew the rules because He made them.

This passage is the conclusion of a rather lengthy discussion of what it means to be a child of God and not a slave to the law. As with many things in the Bible, it pays to read the whole argument to understand the point. Chapter 5 contains the famous contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh. The introduction to this contrast contains some wonderful promises:

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16-18

As part of God’s New Creation People, indwelt and led by the Spirit, the flesh can no longer control us. Furthermore, keeping the Law is no longer our measure of acceptance with God. Although some legalists insisted on circumcision and all that goes with it, Paul explained that love, joy, peace, etc. flow from our newly created hearts. When we learn to follow the Spirit within us, we are free from both the flesh and the Law.

Chapter 5 ends with a beautiful couplet encouraging us to let the Spirit rule our lives:

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5:25-26

Having been born of the Spirit, we have God’s life in us. We are children, not slaves, and we are created righteous and holy by nature (Ephesians 4:24). This God-life is a free gift. The Spirit has given us new life, now our life’s quest is learning to “keep in step with the Spirit.” This new cadence to which we march leads us to live humbly, to treat others with kindness not judgment, and to invest our lives in the work of the Kingdom.

Ignoring the chapter division, we find that Paul continues this theme by giving instruction on exactly how we can “keep in step with the Spirit.” The first 5 verses of Chapter 6 address the way we relate to others in our new family. These verses are a reminder of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5).

• Don’t judge your brother when he fails. Instead, seek to restore him. But for the grace of God, it could be you. Take his burden and help him carry it. (vv. 1-2)
• Instead of judging others, look at yourself. What has God given you to do? Are you taking care of your own walk? Don’t compare yourself to others. Fulfill your own calling. Be responsible for yourself. (vv. 3-5)

Verse 6 begins with “Nevertheless,” the translation of the Greek word de. It’s a linking word, usually used to indicate a change, an exception, or a clarification of what has gone before. It has been translated variously as “and,” “but,” or “now.” Many translations simply don’t translate it because the translators thought it had no value to the point being made. They felt that Paul was changing the subject or adding an afterthought before diving into the big idea, “you reap what you sow.”

Notice the comparison between the New King James Version and the New International Version:

Galatians 6:6 NKJV “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.”

Galatians 6:6 NIV “Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.”

The “nevertheless” makes a difference in how we read the verse. It indicates that there is an exception to verse 5’s “each one should carry their own load.” (Go back and read it all in one piece) “Nevertheless” connects taking care of the local church to keeping in step with the Spirit. The New Testament repeats this theme regularly, tapping into concepts from the Law and applying them to our life as the People of the Spirit.

Sowing and reaping are ordained by God. This principle underlies every aspect of the spiritual life. Sowing into the lives of those who have a special responsibility to care for God’s people permeates the entire Bible. In this “sandwich”, the bread is the two “do goods”. The meat in the middle is, “Sow to the Spirit and reap from the Spirit.” We sow to the Spirit by persevering in sharing all good things with our teachers (v.6) and doing good things for others, especially the church family (v.10).

If you have been following the teaching on the tithe, you might recognize this idea. God always has a plan to take care of His house and those He appoints to oversee it. Under the Law, priests and Levites had no land inheritance as the other tribes had. They were to focus on taking care of the worship of Yahweh. The tithe provided for them, for the necessities of temple worship and feasts, and for the poor who otherwise couldn’t afford to take part. Check out one example:

“You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. (18) Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to. (19) Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.”

Deuteronomy 12:17-19 NIV

Here’s the Point: God always provides for His house and those He calls to care for it. Part of being in step with the Spirit is caring for the local church. Sowing and reaping, the universal principle of the Kingdom of God, applies to this relationship. You can attend a church but never receive the full benefit that God intends. Sowing to the Spirit by giving to the local assembly establishes a spiritual connection with that local family of God and the ministry He has placed there.

My tithe positions me to reap eternal things. It ensures that the house of God is available to meet the needs of me and my house, as well as the needs of others. My tithe says, “This is my family, this is where I belong. I receive nurture and instruction here. I have responsibilities here.” This commitment opens the windows of heaven to pour out revelation and impartation through the channel of the teachers God has placed over me. Don’t miss out on this blessing!

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Malachi 3:10 ESV

Next time we’ll dig deeper into the care of the ministry and the law of sowing and reaping.

Pastor Virgil

3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.

Tucson, AZ 85741

www.fcftucson.org

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Take advantage of our Class: “The Tithe. An 8-hour course focused on God’s plan and purpose in the tithe. The videos and course in-depth outline are available free of charge on the FCF Tucson YouTube channel.