Sermon Tone Analysis

The Use of Money

A newlywed couple was uprooted from their home, their family, and their support system during the most inconvenient time of their lives.

A king who was already losing his power to a Roman occupation discovered a new king was born that would be an even greater threat to his authority.

The second area to which Paul seeks to apply the life of the Spirit in a practical way is the use of money;

Indeed, few things more clearly disclose the priorities of the heart than this.

Second, v. 7 is a proverb Paul used on at least one other occasion to encourage generous giving ().

The presumption is that giving is also uppermost in his mind here.

Finally, we have the fact that giving is important to Paul at this time even apart from the situation in Galatia, for the collection for the Jerusalem poor is part of his policy and the admonition to proceed with the collection is fresh in his mind as a result of the Jerusalem council ().

gla 2.10

Seen in this light, the passage may even be an indirect allusion to the collection,

Three uses of money are mentioned:

(1) the support of the teacher in a Christian congregation,

(2) the use of money to build up the life of the Spirit rather than to feed the flesh,

(3) the spending of money to help others, particularly Christians.

The principle that ties all three points together is that enunciated in the proverb: reaping is in proportion to sowing.

Thus, a man will get out of his effort what he puts into it.

The new testament has a lot to say about giving:

Giving is a measure of discipleship, like bible reading, prayer and church attendance.

luke 6.38

matt

mal

luke 11

In USA since the great recession of 2008 over all giving to church has gone down.

However, giving to non-prophets has increased.

Why

non-prophets - advertise their needs

constantly request funds and send thank you letters

Spend resources asking for money

Church on the other hand just assumes everyone will give because that what Christians do?

We are building a kingdom here for God that will affects souls forever … we have not done our job.

Only 2-5% of Christians tithe.

I don't know of one church that sends out fundraising letter or emails on a regular basis ...

Yet most pastors and church staff are afraid of being labeled “they always talk about money” ....

I Support the Ministry

Key - It seems every life that was touched by the events of Christmas experienced inconvenience and hardship.

6 The reference to the one who is taught in the word (katēchoumenos ton logon)

As soon as possible he seems to have established a more fixed structure.

So here as elsewhere (, ; , ; cf. ), he indicates that a workman is worthy of his pay.

1 tim 5.17

luke 10.

Yet, through those inconveniences, the greatest opportunities presented themselves.

Opportunities for peace in the midst of chaos, for powerful influence, and ultimately for the salvation of all humanity.

To support the Lord’s servants is not, however, a grim duty, though some congregations seem to treat it as such.

Instead, Paul speaks of it as sharing; it is a “fellowship” or a “partnership” (koinōneō).

As the teacher shares the good things of the Word, so the congregation is to share all good things with the teacher.

I remember hearing the story of a circuit-riding preacher whose attire revealed that he had little of this world’s riches.

He, himself, was thin and in less than perfect health.

His horse, on the other hand, was sleek and well kept.

When a parishioner asked the preacher why he looked so poorly and his horse looked so good, the preacher’s response was, “I look after my horse, but you look after me.”

How the pastor is supported is a direct reflection on the people he shepherds.

II Support the Spirit’s Work

gal 6.

illustration - Uncle Emory

What has you resources been spent on .....

Are you resources spent on feed your fleshly desires.

neighbor - car, big garage, boat - building my tomb .....

Illustration - at OBBC we had a SS Class and facility that gave us the opportunity to be discipled and children to learn at AWANNA

Wow - resources could have been spent on - funding a SS Building, Missionary Bible outreach etc....

7 The special advice of v. 6 is now enlarged to benevolence in general, and the principle that ties everything together is stated.

What a man sows he reaps.

This is an immutable law of God, which the phrase “God cannot be mocked” emphasizes.

Consequently, though a man may fool himself (by sowing little but expecting much), he cannot fool God and the results of his poor sowing will be manifest.

8 This is true especially in Christian living.

If a man spends his money on what gratifies his fleshly nature, he will reap a fleshly harvest.

And since the flesh is mortal and will one day pass away, the harvest will pass away also.

On the other hand, if a man uses his money to promote spiritual causes and to feed his spiritual nature, the resulting harvest will remain.

Two factors give the primary application of this principle as Paul intends it to be applied here:

(1) he is still dealing with money, and

(2) he has just been dealing with the spiritual character of the Christian.

It is obvious, however, that the principle also applies more broadly.

It applies to others than the individual himself, for instance.

Thus, as in the case of ministers, if congregations refuse to support them and so forfeit good teaching, preferring to spend their money on themselves, the results will be corruption.

But if, on the other hand, they support good teachers, a spiritual harvest will result.

The principle also applies to the use of time, the use of the mind, and other matters.

III Support The Brethren

gal 6.

9 The great hindrance to such good sowing is weariness that results in discouragement and eventually in giving up.

9 The great hindrance to such good sowing is weariness that results in discouragement and eventually in giving up.

Four months elapse between planting and harvest (); and, while it is true that in spiritual sowing the results occasionally come sooner, it is also true that more often the results take much longer.

Two imperatives govern Paul’s warning: “do not be weary” and “do not faint.”

These are not identical but are directed against the temptations to become discouraged and give up (cf.

Smith, “,” ExpT, 13, 1901–02, p. 139).

The best reason for resisting them is that if the necessary preparation is done, the harvest is sure.

One cannot help feeling that Paul may be talking to himself as he thinks of the extensive but thus far unrewarding efforts he expended on the churches of Galatia.

The change to the first person plural supports this supposition.

10 Finally, Paul speaks broadly about the obligation to do good to all men, returning, however, primarily to the thought of giving money.

But suppose a Christian is very limited in his resources?

In that case, says Paul, he is to give to Christian causes especially, knowing that if they are not supported by Christians, they will not be supported at all.

If he has unlimited funds, he can give to every valid charity that comes along.

Two parts of this verse are of special interest.

First, Paul speaks of the “family of believers.”

This really means “those who have become related to us by believing in Christ” and points to a relationship transcending all others.

In one sense, this is a narrow company made up of those who should have preference in Christian giving and other kinds of welldoing.

On the other hand, the phrase includes all who so believe.

Therefore, giving should not be unduly restricted by denomination or party loyalty.

The other point of special interest is Paul’s mention of “time” (kairos, translated “time” in v. 9 and “opportunity” in v. 10).

Kairos denotes “the right time” or “the proper time” for anything; consequently a time that occurs only once before it is lost forever.

No one can hope to reap the harvest before the time appointed for it by God (v.

9).

But if he does not seize the time appointed him for sowing, he will reap no harvest at all (v.

10).[1]