Sow Generously - November 21

Read Galatians 6:6-7

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Reflect

How do your spending and giving habits expose your priorities?

If there’s one thing we’ve learned through our study of Galatians so far it’s that solid, biblical teaching matters. I am not exaggerating when I say it is a matter of life or death and spiritual freedom or spiritual slavery. When pastors and Bible teachers preach the truth of the Gospel from God’s Word, lives are eternally saved, transformed, and set free. But without constant reminders of Gospel truth, the church is extremely vulnerable to false teachers.

Some of the Galatian believers had succumbed to the Judaizers. They had bought the false teaching that encouraged them to return to spiritual slavery and depend on works of the flesh to achieve their salvation rather than the work of the Spirit and the grace of God. False teaching has to be corrected with true teaching. Solid, biblical teaching matters greatly.

That’s why in today’s verses, Paul encouraged those who have been taught God’s Word to share all good things with the one who teaches. Nothing is more valuable than being taught the truths of God’s Word. In his New Testament Commentary, Dr. Warren Wiersbe put it this way: “The teacher of the Word shares spiritual treasures, and those who are taught ought to share material treasures.”

This is a principle that Jesus taught in Luke 10 when he sent out seventy-two disciples to heal the sick and preach the Gospel. In verse 4, Jesus commanded them to bring no money bag and carry no knapsack on their mission. Instead, verse 7 indicates that they were to stay in a home in whatever city they were visiting. While there, they were to depend on the hospitality and generosity of their hosts. Jesus said, “And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages.” (Luke 10:7).

But then, Paul reminded them that “whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Some prosperity gospel preachers have taken this verse and taught that if you give money to their ministries, you’ll receive health and wealth in return. But that is not what Paul meant here. Those who sow their material resources to share with those who preach and teach the Word are investing in God’s Kingdom. They are sowing material resources to support the work of the Spirit and thus, they will receive spiritual rewards as a return.

Dr. Wiersbe also wrote: “Money sown to the Spirit (such as sharing with those who teach the Word) will produce life, and in that harvest will be seeds that can be planted again for another harvest, and on and on into eternity. If every believer only looked on his material wealth as seed, and planted it properly, there would be no lack in the work of the Lord.”

The reality is, how we steward our material resources exposes what is truly important to us. Jesus told us this truth in Matthew 6:21 when He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If we don’t bat an eye spending money on our hobbies or entertainment but we get tightfisted whenever a ministry or our local church asks for support, what does that reveal about our hearts? If we have no problem spending our hard-earned money on sports or concert tickets or the latest tech gadgets, but we balk at sharing financial resources with those who are dedicated to teaching the truths of God’s Word, we have to admit that we have our priorities mixed up. Spiritual teaching that is faithful to Scripture has a value with a potential return beyond what we may even recognize in this lifetime. If we truly value being blessed by it then we joyfully and without compulsion give to those who joyfully give the Gospel to us.

Respond

Lord, I confess that sometimes my financial priorities get mixed up and I sow my money to the flesh rather than to the Spirit. But you have blessed me with everything I have. Help me to generously sow my material wealth to those in my life who faithfully teach the treasure of Your Word. Amen.

Reveal

Think of someone whose teaching, encouragement, or example has helped you grow in your faith—a pastor, mentor, small group leader, or even a friend who consistently points you to God’s truth. Take a moment this week to bless them in a tangible way. Write a note of thanks, share a meal, offer to help with a need, or give a gift that reminds them how much their work matters. If it’s been a while since you’ve reached out, this simple act of generosity can sow joy into both of your lives. When we invest in those who invest in God’s Word, we participate in something lasting—spiritual fruit that continues to multiply far beyond what we can see.