Scripture Reference: Galatians 6:1-10

Sharing Blessings – Continued

From last lesson: If we try to keep going without proper food and rest, we will faint. How important it is to “wait on the Lord” to get the strength we need spiritually for each day (Isaiah 40:28-31).

But the promise Paul gives us will help to keep us going: “In due season we shall reap.” The seed that is planted does not bear fruit immediately. There are seasons to the soul just as there are seasons to nature, and we must give the seed time to take root and bear fruit. How wonderful it is when the plowman overtakes the reaper (Amos 9:13). Each day we ought to sow the seed so that one day we will be able to reap (Psalm 126:5-6). But we must remember that the Lord of the harvest is in charge, and not the laborers.

Sharing blessings involves much more than teaching the Word and giving of our material substance. It also involves the command to “do good to all.” There are those in this world who absolutely relish doing evil (Psalm 34:16); in fact, there are those who return evil for good (Psalm 35:12). Most of the people in the world however do try to return good for good and evil for evil (see Luke 6:32-35; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). But the Christian is supposed to rise above the norm and thus return good for evil (Romans 12:18-21) and to do this in a spirit of Christian love. Actually, the Christian’s good works are a spiritual sacrifice that he gives to the Lord (Hebrew 13:16). When we give God’s love freely to all people, just as we give our material possessions to the cause of Christ, once given, it is between the recipient and God.

We are to “do good to all.” That word, “all,” leaves no one out. This is how we let our light shine and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). It is not only by words that we witness to the lost, but also by our works. I have always taught that love given is action! In fact, our works pave the way for our verbal witness; they win us the right to be heard. It is not a question of asking, “Does this person deserve my good works?” Did we deserve what God did for us in Christ? Nor should we be like the defensive lawyer who tried to argue, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:25-37) Jesus made it very clear that the question is not “Who is my neighbor?” but “To whom can I be a neighbor too?”

As we “do good to all [people],” we must give priority to “the household of faith,” the fellowship of believers. This does not mean that the local church should become an exclusive clique with the members isolated from the world around them and doing nothing to help the lost. Rather, it is a matter of balance. Certainly the believers in Paul’s day would have greater needs than would the outsiders, since many of the believers suffered for their faith (see Hebrews 10:32-34). Furthermore, a man should always care for his own family before he cares for the neighborhood (1 Timothy 5:8).

We must remember, however, that we share with other Christians so that all of us might be able to share with a needy world. The Christian in the household of faith is a receiver that he might become a transmitter, a distributor of faith, as it were. As we abound in love for one another, we overflow in love for all men (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

This is how it was meant to be and how it should be in the lives of true believers.

Adapted and modified excerpts from Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary Volume 1.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.