All the Good

July 6, 2025 homily on Galatians 6:1-10 by Pastor Galen

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Sowing and Reaping

Most of us here are not farmers, but we know enough about farming and gardening to know that if you want to grow sunflowers, you have to plant sunflower seeds. If you want to grow apples, you have to plant apple seeds. We reap (or harvest) whatever seeds we sow, as the Apostle Paul says a few verses earlier in verse 7. 

The idea that we will “reap what we sow” is not exclusive to Christianity. It’s found in other religions as well, such as Judaism and Hinduism. Often this is used as a warning — that if we sow bad seeds or do bad things to others then bad things will happen to us. But here in verse 9, Paul uses this concept as an encouragement that we should not grow weary in doing good things, because if we continue faithfully in doing good, then we will eventually reap good things. Because of this, the Apostle Paul says, we should “work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith”(Galatians 6:10b) “whenever we have an opportunity” (Galatians 6:10a).

Freedom in Christ

To give a bit of context here: The book of Galatians was originally a letter sent by the Apostle Paul to the church in the region of Galatia. This was a church that Paul himself had played a key role in helping to establish. The church was made up mostly of people who were Gentiles — meaning that they did not have a Jewish cultural or ethnic background — who had put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But now they were being told by some people that having faith was not enough — that they also had to adopt all of the Jewish laws and customs as well. 

In the previous chapters, Paul has been encouraging the Christians in Galatia not to become trapped in this sort of legalistic thinking. In Galatians 5:1, Paul said that it is “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). When the Galatians put their faith in Christ they were set free from captivity to sin and death. Paul wants to make sure that they don’t now enter into a whole new type of captivity — to the law, or “works righteousness”, believing that they have to try to earn their salvation by keeping the law or doing good works.

Of course, the fact that we are saved by faith, not by works, does not discount the value of doing good works, as Paul makes. In Ephesians 2 verses 8-10, Paul says, 

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

So as Christians we are no longer held captive. Christ has set us free from the law and from sin and death so that we can do the good works that we were created to do!

We do good works not to earn or gain God’s favor — we already have it! Rather, as people who have been set free we get to live into our purpose — the very things we were created to do — the very things that we find life-giving — not out of fear of what’s going to happen if we don’t do it, but rather out of joy, knowing that if we continue to do good and do not give up then eventually we will reap harvest of justice and righteousness. 

But Paul recognizes that it is possible for us to grow weary in doing good sometimes. We are after all humans, and we have limitations. We do not have an infinite amount of energy, and sometimes we grow tired. Sometimes (or maybe quite often) we have aches and pains.

Tiredness vs. Weariness

A few weeks ago, we set up three booths at the Hampden Highlights Festival with all sorts of activities for children and families. Bruce and Michele and Maria and our family and Pastor Bee (who has been helping us out with Messy Church) helped at the booths throughout the day. From set-up to clean-up was about 12 hours, and after helping to carry tables and chairs and supplies from our church to 36th Street, and standing on my feet most of the day, and then cleaning up afterwards, I was exhausted. In fact, I said to Eboni the next day that “I think this is the first time that I’m feeling my age!” My arms and legs were aching.

Now, that was a good type of tiredness, accompanied by a sense of joy and fulfillment and partnership and community. Together our little group was able to pull off something that none of us could have done individually. Together as a congregation — some donating their time and talents, others their resources — we were able to share God’s love with our community, and provide a wonderful service to families who were attending the festival. Even though my body was exhausted, my spirit was lifted. 

But sometimes the tiredness we feel is accompanied by discouragement, and our spirits feel deflated. This is the type of weariness Paul is talking about here. 

We often feel this type of weariness when we try to be nice to someone, and then they turn around and take advantage of us. Or when we’re working hard to try to improve a situation, and then, with just a stroke of a pen, some government official or someone higher up in our business or organization seems to undo all of the good we’ve done.

There’s also an exhaustion that comes when we feel like we’re the only ones trying to do good, and that no one else cares. I’m sure some of you have felt this way. It’s inevitable when we have such a small congregation. You plan an event or opportunity, and only a handful of people show up — or maybe no one shows up — and it’s hard to know whether it’s because no one was interested, or that people simply couldn’t attend because of scheduling or health-related reasons. 

“Let Us Not Grow Weary…”

So, how can we guard against this type of weariness? How do we continue doing good things, even when it seems like we’re all alone, or when the good things we’re doing are not having the impact we desire to see?

1. Well, for starters, we first of all must recognize that all good things come from God, and so we are certainly not alone in doing good.  The poet who wrote the words of Psalm 66 exhorts us to “Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds’” (Psalm 66:3) and to “Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals” (Psalm 66:5). This is indeed why we gather together — to give praise to God for all that God has done for us, and all that God has given us.

This is why we gather each week — to praise the Lord. When we give God praise for all that God has done, our spirits are uplifted, and we are reminded that we are indeed never alone. God is actively at work in our world, constantly working for good. 

Sure, there are a lot of bad things in the world, and we don’t always know why they happen. But what we do know is that God can take even something that others meant for evil, and turn it around for good. God can take the hardships and trials that we face to help make us stronger, and to help us empathize with and help others. 

No matter what, we are not alone in doing good, because God is actively at work in our world. God never slumbers or sleeps, God is never caught off guard. And no matter what may come our way, God can turn it around for good. And so we need to remember that we are not alone, because God is the source of all goodness.

2. We need to surround ourselves with other people who can encourage us and remind us and help us have a positive perspective. This is another reason why we gather together — to encourage one another in doing good, and to be reminded that we are not alone. 

Of course, there are people, even in church, who constantly complain, and so we need to work together to stay positive. I’m sure you’ve experienced the phenomenon that you’re feeling good and having a great day, and then someone starts to complain about something, and it just drags your spirit down. 

So we need to surround ourselves with people who are going to help us have a positive outlook.

3. This leads us to another way that we can avoid weariness — and that is work together and to share the load with other Believers. Some of you are at a place in life where you have more time than money, while others have more money than time. Some of us are gifted in certain ways, and others have other gifts. By pulling our resources together we can have a greater impact than any one of us could have individually. When it comes to the Church, truly “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, as the saying goes. 

I’m also reminded of the quote by Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Individually we may not be able to change the world, but with God as our leader and guide, and working together with other believers, we certainly can make a positive difference in this world.

“…Especially for Those of the Household of Faith”

The question is where do we start? When there’s so much need in the world, how do we know where to focus our limited time and energy? 

The Apostle Paul gives us a starting point in verse 10 when he says, “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the [household] of faith” (Galatians 6:10). In other words, “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed!” 

This doesn’t mean, of course, that we only care for those who are part of our own church community, but rather that we start right where we are. In our own household, our own family, our own congregation, and then we extend out from there. 

So this morning, let us not grow weary in doing what is right. May we remember that we are not alone — God is working on our behalf — and we are called to work and serve together as a community. If we sow good things, we will indeed reap a harvest of justice and righteousness. 

In the words of John Wesley, 

Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.

Amen!

Questions for Personal Reflection in Response to Today’s Sermon:

• Am I currently feeling tired or weary in my efforts to do good? If so, is it physical tiredness or a deeper spiritual weariness?

• In what ways can I remind myself that I am never truly alone in doing good—that God is always at work, even when I can’t see the results?

• Who are the people in my life that lift me up and help me stay positive when I feel discouraged? How can I intentionally spend more time with them?

• In what ways have I experienced the truth that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”?

• What small but meaningful step can I take today to sow good, knowing God is at work in and through me?