Scripture
We Harvest What We Plant
1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer[1] is overcome by some sin, you who are godly[2] should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
4Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5For we are each responsible for our own conduct.
6Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
7Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
Translation notes (2)
- 6:1a Greek Brothers, if a man.
- 6:1b Greek spiritual.
9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
We live in a world of instant gratification. If we want to buy something, we can order it online and get it the very next day. If we are hungry, we can pick up our phones and order a meal from a food delivery app, and it will arrive at our homes in less than one hour. If we want to talk to someone, we can give them a call and talk with them immediately. Because of this, many of us are not good at waiting. For those who are single, they are impatiently waiting to find their spouse. Some are impatiently waiting to get their dream job. Others are waiting for the perfect house. We are all waiting for something. The question is, how will we wait? Will we wait patiently, or will we wait bitterly and impatiently?
Galatians 6 offers encouragement to those of us in seasons of waiting. As we live our lives, the apostle Paul encourages us in these verses to live to honor God rather than living according to our sin. Sin, Paul wrote, leads to death. Living for God, however, leads to everlasting life. Encouraging perseverance and patience, Paul wrote, "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9). This verse is a call for us to be patient and work hard while we are waiting. This perseverance and patience, He wrote, will lead to rewards in their time.
What are you waiting for today? Are you waiting to get married? Are you waiting for your career advancement? Are you waiting for a deeper relationship with your spouse with your friends? My friend, do not give up. Be patient. Wait on God's timing. At the right time, you will receive the reward for your waiting.
Moving Toward Action
Whatever you are waiting on, a spouse, a home, a job, etc., commit to waiting patiently on God. Memorize Galatians 6:9. In times when you are feeling impatient, recall this memory verse. As you do this, you will be reminded to be patient and wait for God's intervention in these specific areas of your life. As you wait, continue to come to church, serve with passion, and God will take care of the rest!
Going Deeper
Read Galatians 6:1-10 (NLT)
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