Motives Matter - November 25

Read Galatians 6:11-13

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Reflect

Prayerfully consider your motivation for serving in the ministries that you are involved in. Are you in it for your own glory or for God’s glory?

I came across a funny but true picture on social media the other day. It showed two notes side by side with the words “You will always be mine” written on both. One note looked like a Valentine card written in loopy red script complete with a heart at the end. The other note looked like a threat from a murderer. The red font was all caps and the letters looked like they were dripping blood. The point of the meme was that “font matters.”

It cracked me up but it got me thinking. The font of the notes gave us clues about the identity of the sender and their motive. If I received the first note, I’d probably call my wife and thank her for the love note or send her a love note back to reciprocate. But if I received the second note, I’d probably call the police and watch my back for a while. Font matters.

In today’s passage, Paul drew the reader’s attention to the “font” of his letter. Of course in Paul’s day the printing press had not been invented yet and he wasn’t typing on a typewriter, sending an email, or texting his friends. Rather, Paul’s letters were usually handwritten by a scribe except for a short portion at the end. This conclusion in his own handwriting personalized his letter and authenticated it with his signature. When he signed-off on each letter, he usually emphasized something important that he wanted to make sure his readers grasped. It was also customary for Paul to include a prayer for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be with the recipients of his letter (Examples in 1 Corinthians 16:21-24, 1 Thessalonians 5:28, and 2 Thessalonians 3:17-18). After all, Paul always wanted to emphasize that we are saved by God’s grace alone.

Bible scholars debate about Paul’s intended meaning for writing in such big letters. Some believe that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) was his eyesight. Recall from Galatians 4:13-15 that Paul cited a “bodily ailment” as the reason he remained in Galatia for so long and that the believers there took such good care of him even though his condition was burdensome to them. He specifically wrote: “you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me” (Galatians 4:15) making a strong case that it was his eyes that were impacted by his illness. If this is the case, it would make sense that Paul wrote in large letters so he could see what he was writing.

Others believe that Paul wrote in such big letters because he had something important to communicate. Think of someone sending a message typed in all caps. It grabs your attention and marks the words as important. It may even have served to emphasize that an external “good showing” (such as neatly written script) is not as important as inner righteousness.

But regardless of the reason behind his large lettering, his font mattered. It helped identify him as the true sender and it helped us determine his purpose. He wanted to emphasize the motives of the Judaizers. First, they wanted to force the Gentile believers to be circumcised because it made a “good showing in the flesh.” In other words, they were primarily concerned with outward demonstrations of righteousness and works of the flesh that impressed other people. It made them look good. In addition, they didn’t want to be persecuted for the cross of Christ. So they advocated legalism rather than elevating the work of Christ on the cross, so that they could save their own skin.

Paul’s point? Motives matter. Why would the Galatians reject the true Gospel of Jesus Christ only to appease people who do not have their best interests at heart? The Judaizers were motivated by pride and cowardice. But Paul was not concerned with pleasing men. He was a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10). He was motivated by the truth of the Gospel—the only Gospel that can save. What motivates you to serve the Lord? Are you concerned with making a good showing? Or are you primarily concerned with being a servant of Christ? Are you working for His glory or yours?

Respond

Lord, I want to be Your servant, motivated only by preaching Your Gospel so that others may be saved for Your glory. But I confess that at times I can get caught up in legalism and boasting in making a good showing. Forgive me, Lord. I know that apart from you, I can do nothing (John 15:5). Amen.

Reveal

In your serving this week, how can you draw more attention to Christ rather than draw attention to yourself?