Galatians 6:11-18

Motive matters

Now, you can do the wrong thing or say the wrong thing with good intentions. But, the wrong thing is always wrong regardless of the motive. Motive or intentions does not negate the wrong or erase the hurt.

But, motive determines if the good thing is truly good, or if it is spoiled or stained.

In the closing paragraphs Paul contrasts the difference between living for the praise of men and the glory of God.

Galatians 6:11–18 (CSB)

11 Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God! 17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Paul writes concerning those who are trying to make a good impression in the flesh versus boasting in the cross of Christ.

The motivation for pushing the Galatians to be circumcised was to avoid the persecution and criticism of men. Where as Paul says his motivation for telling the Galatians to not be circumcised is to glorify God by boasting in the cross rather than their works.

The group pushing for the Galatians to follow the law to secure their salvation was a group that wasn’t capable of keeping the whole law themselves. Their instructions are an act of hypocrisy and futility and a burden they placed on others that they couldn’t keep themselves.

This way of thinking is present today in many churches, and it is motivated by a man-centered approach to life. Teaching and action that is motivated by what others think is opposed to the Gospel, but it has an immediate reward. However the immediate reward of pleasing others may come with eternal loss. Paul closes this letter with an emphasis on motivation, because motivation matters.

The motivation Paul is referencing here is really a contrast between two entirely different approaches to life. These are opposing world views or tow different ways of life. In fact the entire book of Galatians outlines the contrast and opposition between two different ways of life.

The two opposing ways of life are the way of the flesh and the way of the Spirit

The way of the flesh lives for the praise of men rather than the glory of God

Bondage to the law (Galatians 5

Living according to the law is slavery.

There is no freedom from sin through the law, only condemnation

The law cannot and will not justify any human being

The end result of the law is death for those who choose to live by it. It is like tying an anvil to your waist with a rope and jumping in the ocean. No matter how hard you swim, you will never reach the surface and live.

According to your flesh and opposed to God

Galatians 5:17 says, “For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit.”

The desire to earn the praise of men rather than the glory of God is a self gratifying motivation.

You might want to ask, why can’t I desire both? Because like Galatians 5:9 says, “A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough.” The fleshly desire to earn the praise of men will corrupt the Spirit led desire to glorify God. If men praise you for bringing glory to God, that is a good thing. But, if men don’t praise you for glorifying God, that is also a good thing. The work of glorifying God will become corrupted if you always need to hear and receive the praise of men for what you do for the Lord.

What example do I have for this? The cross of Jesus Christ is the example. Jesus glorified God instead of pleasing men. Had Jesus done what earned him the most immediate praise from men, He would not have glorified God through his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sin.

Seeking self over others

The motivation for the praise of men renders every action selfish rather than selfless. You can do a good thing, but if your motivation is wrong then it stains the good thing and it will eventually come to the surface. Again, a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough.

The way of the Spirit lives for the glory of God rather than the praise of men.

Freedom through grace

Forgiveness comes through the grace of God by faith in Jesus

Justification is granted and earned, it is received not achieved.

The end result of grace is life. Grace is not a life preserver for the swimmer with an anvil tied to his waist. Or as RC Sproul once said:

“God just doesn’t throw a life preserver to a drowning person. He goes to the bottom of the sea, and pulls a corpse from the bottom of the sea, takes him up on the bank, breathes into him the breath of life and makes him alive.”

Living in the freedom of grace glorifies God by boasting in the work of Christ and acknowledging the justifying work of God rather than the performance of men.

According to the Spirit and opposed to the world

Walking according to the Spirit requires crucifying the desires of the flesh (5:24)

Walking according to the Spirit requires keeping in step with the Spirit (5:25). And this is living in line with the Word of God through the leading and help of the Holy Spirit.

Walking according to the Spirit bears the fruit of the Spirit in your relationship with God and others. (5:22-23)

The motivation for walking in the Spirit is the glory of God.

Seeking the good of others over self

5:16 says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Living for the glory of God results in other people praising God for your work. If the goal is for God to be praised, then the result of your effort is that they praise God and not you.

There is a difference in being thanked by others for aiming them to the Lord then aiming for their praise by using the Lord.

“Preach the Gospel, die and be forgotten.” Count Zinzendorf (in the 1700’s to those who were entering the mission field.)

John said, “He must increase and I must decrease”

Paul said, “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

Paul lived for the glory of God to the point that He was beaten and persecuted. The circumcision party came talking about the marks they had on their body according to the law. And, Paul had the same marks of circumcision, but the marks on his body that Paul drew their attention too were his scars from being stoned and beaten… because these were born from the motivation of boasting in Christ and glorifying God.

Let us follow the example of Christ that we see in Paul, and heed the instruction of Count Zinzendorf by aiming our lives toward the glory of God rather than the praise of men.