THE LAW OF COMMUNICATION
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:6-10)
This passage has been preached many times by many preachers. The central theme is the law of sowing and reaping. It is true that we will reap what we sow. It is true that we sow now and reap later. It is a fact that we will reap more than what we sow. Many Christians feel uneasy whenever this passage is preached. They feel that the preacher is once again bringing them on a guilt trip. Am I going to bring you on a guilt trip? Yes, only in the context in which this passage is given. I have not heard this passage preached in the context in which it is given. There is a blessing from this passage, which I do not want you to miss. There is much spiritual investment concerning the natural law of sowing and reaping. I want you to extend your investment horizon beyond this mortal life and see in eternity the rewards that will be waiting for you. Christians should take note on the strong words expressed by the apostle Paul. God is not mocked and God will ensure that we reap what we sow.
The context of this passage is given in verse 6: Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. It concerns the law of communication. It concerns communicating with those who teach us in all good things. How do we communicate with those who teach us in all good things? Do we just pick up the phone and call the preacher and that is all? So what is this law of communication all about? What is to be communicated? Who are the intended recipients of this communication? The subject and the object for this law of communication are very clear. It concerns temporal blessings that one possesses. The Scriptures have many admonitions for those who are rich to be careful how they discharge their duty with regards to their stewardship of temporal blessings given to them from above. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy to give a charge to those who were rich in this world.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19) The rich Christians are charged not to be high-minded. They are charged not to trust in uncertain riches. They are charged to do good and be ready always to do good with their riches and not with their mouths. The rich are especially singled out to be practitioners of charity. There is great propensity for the rich to be misers and oppressors. Becoming high-minded is a very real threat for those who are rich. They are charged to be willing to communicate not on their phones but with their wallets and on their riches. They are charged to invest in eternity in verse 19: Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. There is great tendency for the rich to invest only in earthly life to get gain and continue to be enriched and become richer in earthly goods. Like the world says, the rich gets richer. Riches are a serious liability. Why is that so? The Lord Jesus Christ gave this warning. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mark 4:19) As can be seen from the Scripture, those who rich are always warned against being carried away with their riches. Riches are definitely deceitful according to Scriptures. The cares of this world and the lusts of other things associated with riches will beset a Christian in his walk to a true and full reward in the celestial land of rest.
Hence, the world has got it all wrong. They view riches as assets but the Bible views it as a liability. The Lord confirms it in Mark 10:23: And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! So not many who are rich make it into the kingdom of God. The rich are put in a less privileged position with the poor who are usually rich in faith. Christians are living on probation all of his earthly life to prove how he handles his riches. This has a serious impact on his future state in the world to come as far as his rewards are concerned. The Lord explained and charged that a man’s life is not measured by his earthly possession in Luke 12:15: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. This is an ever timely exhortation that will never grow old in this sin cursed world. Those who are rich tend to measure their success in life using the wrong yardstick. To them, life is proportional to earthly possessions. They do not realize that riches are a liability if they could not handle them well. True life is independent of earthly possessions.
Covetousness is a very serious sin because it is equated to be the same as idolatry in Colossians 3:5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: If Christians are not careful, they will be guilty of worshipping another god, a false god of mammon. The Psalmist warns: Psalm 62:10: Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. The admonition here is not to give too much care on riches. If riches increase, we are not to set out heart upon them. Riches are uncertain. Riches can be good servants but for those who are covetous, riches can become evil taskmasters and the owner could be turned into a slave to riches. That is why riches are deceitful. Those who do not understand the nature of riches are damned to become slaves to riches.
Solomon also warned: Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverb 23:5) Riches do fly and when they fly away no one can stop them. It is utterly foolish to serve riches who will abandon them at a moment’s notice. Those who set their eyes upon riches will certainly be disappointed. They will be played out by the very riches they seek to keep for all their lives. There is absolutely nothing wrong for a Christian to be wealthy. However, if what a Christian has is just earthly wealth with no corresponding good work to show with their wealth in communicating with the saints that are in need, he is a very poor soul indeed. Riches are not meant for those whose hearts are covetous. They will surely be taken by the snarl of riches and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The commandment Paul wrote to Timothy for the rich was that those who are rich are supposed to be willing to communicate their riches. They are admonished to be ready to distribute and not to keep. They are expected according to divine writ to be rich in good works. As such, riches are certainly unstable. They do fly away without informing the owners and cause much sorrow and pain to those whose entire lives are revolving around getting gains and to become rich. It is not uncommon for rich Christians to ignore those poorer Christians who are living from hand to mouth. That is why there are so many warnings issued to those who are rich to be careful on how they handle their riches.
This article is taken from a chapter in the book “Biblical Law of Communication” which may be downloaded via:
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Hebrews 13:16