Galatians 6;9 (KJV)
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Paul, here in the sixth chapter, is opening up (v1-6) with the reminder to all that "putting in work" for the upliftment of others is to not be dismissed, and that it should be done from a position of understanding that the worker is to not receive any PRIDEFUL thoughts of recognition. He even alerts all to the fact that when the work is being done, it has to be 'proved' (v4). I like that because it makes us walk with a conscious remembrance of why we are working. Then Paul goes further (v7-8) to remind all that the work done is being watched over by God, and to not forget that God WILL NOT be made fun of by having a worker speak that the work is "of God". Oh, you would want to remember this always, when doing your work, because there will be payment for the work done. That is an assurance set aside by God.
Now we get to the scripture of focus. Verse 9, and immediately we need to to take in the knowledge that Paul sticks this in as an addition, a "do not get sad" type of addition, to secure all that the payment for spiritual work DOES get paid out. Again, it is an assurance. So on this Labor Day I desire to encourage you all to not look upon the work, that truly is "of God", as not having a payment attached to it. You have to know, from this point forward, that all you are doing to encourage, uplift, edify, minister, or just plain ol' serve someone has a payment attached to it, and this payment (the blessing) WILL BE PAID by God.
Why must Paul, at the very beginning, let us know to not 'be weary'? The short, simple answer: We have the tendency to work with one hand and seek immediate payment with the other. But, if payment doesn't arrive in the time we expect it to, we begin to slow down our work. I lean towards the thought that the slow down is not 'weariness' as much as it is 'work under protest'. Now, that's my thought. That is not what Paul is stating with the word. Actually, weary in the Greek is ekkakeo (ek-kak-eh'-o) which means to be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by implication) to fail (in heart). Think of a person setting out to plant a section of shrubs within a botannical garden. As they are going about there work, they begin to think of stopping. This thought leads to the "slowing down" or becoming weary while working. Paul is saying, "Don't let the thought in because the payment IS behind the work."
For in due season we shall reap. First off, whenever you see the word 'shall' it should be understood as IT WILL HAPPEN!!! Nothing can or will stop it from happening. So, here we see that in our well doing of working for those things that are "of God", we are encouraged to NOT get weary because a guaranteed, without fail payment is attached. Here is where we, the worker, get "bent". The knowledge that this payment will arrive 'in due season'..... Being totally honest with you all, what does 'in due season' mean? I ask because I am still looking for payment for some work I put in two years ago. LOL I am just being honest (transparent). You know this just might be your pondering as well. Okay to ease your mind, this 'in due season' means the payment arrives when you are ready to do the proper "of God" thing with it. Lost a few of you with that one. What Paul is getting us to see is that when we are doing the work; laboring, for things that are "of God" we can and should have the sure knowledge that payment is coming. And, the payment IS our's, but the payment will be "of God" because we will be in a place to spend the payment on that which is "of God". This is why Paul tags on the last bit, "if we faint not".
That small caveat is the Holy Spirit acknowledging that we are the type of workers who look to spend our payment on things that are not "of God", so the time period of payment (within God's knowledge) is going to be according to our desire to do those things that are "of God". I think about myself. There are many things which I would so enjoy spending a paycheck on, but God has more for me to do, and the things I am going to need to accomplish the more have to be "purchased" first. So my payment may just have to come in the time when God knows that I will get the things that are "of God". But, if I am focused on those things that are not, then that is not the 'in due season' time to receive. I seriously shouldn't expect payment. Yup, that is a little hard for me to swallow too.
Brothers and Sisters, we must understand that God is not in the business of witholding payment from any of his workers that are out "laboring" for things that are "of God". What God doesn't desire for us to do is spend the payment on selfish gain, or things that are only leading us to 'corruption', death, and hell. Please, on this Labor Day, take a moment or two to reflect on the last payment you received (from the work you did). What did you do with it? Think about whether or not, if God were your employer, would the paycheck have a payment amount on it? Or, would the payment be, "in due season"?
Holla,
Yer Brova Catalyst
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