Paul opens Ch 6 of this letter with an overall theme of, “love thy neighbor as thyself,” in view. Principally, he gives particular attention to the application of this within the relationships within the church. He exposes the enemy of agape love which is self-pride, thus his statement in v3, “For if anyone think he is something, when is nothing, he deceives himself.” An inflated sense of self is a virtue of and follows the pattern of this world. It is not of or from God (1 Jn 2:15-17). Prior to Paul concluding this letter, he decides to offer some final instructions to the church that addresses the areas of (a) how the community of faith is to share in both spiritual and material things and (b) the consequences of living by the will of the flesh in how it hinders our ability to obey the Word of God. Here are a couple observations of Paul’s instruction on this matter in this block of scripture.
V6, “The one who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.” All things (that are profitable) for the body of Christ is also to be shared with its leaders (e.g. elders) who are apart of such community. Church leaders are not an exclusive, more valued group in the eyes of God, for God shows no partiality (Deut 10:17, Rom 2:11). We have spiritual and physical needs just like the flock we watch over. While we have oversight responsibilities in the church, we are not heads of the church……Christ is Head (Col 1:18). Here are a few others misconceptions about elders that that churches in affluent society such as America embraces to its own error and detriment:
- We are not CEO’s. Elders are not highly charismatic corporate executives whose primary focus is to lead an organization to grow in worldly wealth and socio-economic standing. Most churches today metrics for success is measured in the size of facilities and growth of membership; rather than discipleship and maturity in godly character in its members which leads to pursuit of godly works. Remember, Jesus picked a despised tax collector and a band of smelly fishermen to be his disciples. Further Paul taught that God chooses what is considered foolish and of low value in the world of men to carry out his divine purposes (1 Cor 1:26-31).
- We are not Motivational Speakers. Elders are not people whose primary responsibility is to tell people what they want to hear that will constantly make them fill good about themselves and their circumstances. Paul warns Timothy that one of the signs of the end times is that people will not want to hear sound doctrine or anything they perceive to be “negative” that conflicts with their own personal self-willed ambitions and agendas (2 Tim 4:3-4). We are called to preach a Gospel that will be offensive to the carnal mind. The world holds such message in contempt and with hostility (2 Cor 4:7-12). Contrastively, motivational speakers central focus is to energize people to live more for self by channeling the power and ability to do so within themselves. A preacher of the Gospel’s God-given chief aim is to encourage and exhort us to live for God, by finding the power we need to do so in his Spirit which is from Heaven above.
- We are not Human Prodigies. Elders do not have all gifts and talents. We are not superhuman and suffer with flaws in our character as others do. Like those we serve, we are also fallen creatures, redeemed by the blood of Christ. We have not been ordained by God to preach because we are talented or some elite group of righteous people (as the Pharisees thought about themselves), but rather are given responsibility because of God’s providential will and grace alone. Further, most of the gifts needed for the church to be fruitful reside in the laity and are given by the same Spirit that empowers us (1 Cor 12:4-7).
Elders are those set aside by God with the primary role of preaching the gospel and administration of prayer for the community of faith (Acts 6:4). We are allowed to enjoy the “good things” or harvest of righteousness of the same field God commissioned us to labor in…….that our joy may also be complete with you (cf. 1 Cor 9:4-12)
V7-8, The sharing in both physical and spiritual things in the Christian Faith is reciprocal in nature. Paul warns that God does not permit anyone to make light of his Gospel and the exhortations that are implied in them to include the command for mutual community care between church leaders and the congregation. God is not mocked, and making light of his word does not go unnoticed by him. What a person sows in to they will reap, either good or bad. Paul highlights contrasting results of what we invest our energies and affections in. He says:
“…For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption…” to “reap” is to clear (gather) crop from a harvest, which is the fruit of a farmer’s labor. Likewise, when we live by our carnal nature and allow the old man to have its way, it informs the decisions we make that ultimately produce a corrupt harvest (result) in our lives (cf. Gal 5:16-17). This text provides a warning for both the Christian and the nonbeliever in this way:
(1) For the Christian, we if live to please the flesh, we will experience corrupted (destructive) results of our decisions. Though we are saved, we will not benefit from Spirit-led living. We can control our actions, but not the consequences.
(2) For the non-believer, they do not have the Spirit, and are only left to live by their carnal nature. They are enslaved to the their own will and passions and are ruled by the influences of the satanic world…..as we once all were (Eph 2:1-3). If such person is not saved from fleshly living, they not only produce corrupted fruit in their human life, but shall experience everlasting destruction (2 Th 1:5-10). Such a person cannot and will not live in a way that is pleasing to God (Rom 8:1-8), without redemptive intervention by God through Christ.
“…but those who sow to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” In other words, one who practices a lifestyle to please the Spirit will reap a harvest of righteousness manifesting in their life now and in eternity. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control will abound and be growing daily in such a person’s life. Many of these things are lost in our culture and are failing to be evident in Christians……..especially on social media and our political discourse. Many today are nurturing a corrupt seed in their hearts and it produces ungodly thinking and actions…………especially in the area of, “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
The eternal contribution we sow (our faithfulness) by the Spirit in this life reaps (stores up) our treasures in heaven. We live to please God who is in heaven, not ourselves to fulfill our worldly ambitions to be great, grow our bank accounts, and hoard earthly material wealth (Mt 6:19-20, Lk 12:16-21). Our focus is God, not ourselves nor man in our endeavors and decisions.
Further, to live by flesh we must do so by the wisdom of this world which exalts man, but living by the Spirit we are guided by the wisdom of God which produces a harvest of god-glorifying life (Jam 3:13-18)
V9, Now Paul encourages the Christian to continue in faithfulness to God. He identifies the promise: By living to pleasing God, there will be a season that we shall reap the fruits of such a lifestyle, now and in eternity. Paul words are purposeful in this verse, because he understands that weariness is an issue for every Christian. Well-doing requires continued effort, and constant toil by which we can only achieve in the power of the Spirit. At the same time, we continually battle against the desires of the flesh that is cherishes ease and is easily discouraged when we don’t see the fruit of our labors.
Further, like the Galatians we whom Paul writes, we long for our eternal reward that will be received at the return of Christ. Such a day is fixed by the internal plan of God. Paul encourages the churches in Corinth in a similar way (1 Cor 15:50-58).
Paul’s exhorts the church to “persevere.” God not only preserves us through our labors and toil, but he has a purpose in allowing difficulty to be an integral part in a Spirit led life. Trials and tribulations produces and matures us in godliness (Rom 5:1-5).
V10, In light of the abundance blessing we received in God, we ought to use our time to live for God and serve others. Paul commands we are to do good to everyone, but especially among the community of faith. Why? How we love each other impacts our “witness” as to who God is in Christ to the lost world. If we behave like the world in the church, we give cause for unbelievers to blaspheme the name of God because of our ungodly actions and speech (cf. Rom 2:17-24). Additionally, we would fail to show the world we are Christ disciples. Jesus DID NOT say that we would demonstrate we are his disciples because:
- We have all the right doctrines and theologies
- We hold fast to the right religion or political affiliations
- We belong right socio-economic class and ethnic group
- We belong to the right country
He said it was how we loved one another (as prescribed by scripture) that reveals we are children of heaven. When we love one another, we are showing obedience to Christ (Jn 13:34-35), and are thereby able to reap a harvest of righteousness in our lives. This is the true treasure we give as a sacrifice unto God.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th. D
www.springoflivingwaters.com