Jump Start # 393 

Galatians 4:11 “I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.”

  The Galatian churches seemed to be tail spinning. Instead of progressing in the Gospel, they were confused and going backward to the Law of Moses that they left. In the first chapter Paul marvels that they are deserting Christ for another Gospel (1:6). He asks them who “bewitched you” (3:1). In the fourth chapter, Paul says, “…you who want to be under the law…” (4:21) and, “you observe days and months and seasons and year” (4:10). Then comes our verse, “I fear for you…”

  Paul says, “perhaps I have labored over you in vain.” The word “vain” means empty. It’s a favorite word of Solomon in Ecclesiastes. As Paul uses it here in Galatians, he means that his work was a waste of time.

  Have you ever felt that way? Moms do. They clean the house and get it all polished and spic and span and then the kids and often times, that includes Dad, burst home and in less than 30 minutes, it’s a mess. Dishes everywhere. Toys scattered everywhere. Clothes on the floor. It took Mom all day to clean. She sighs and feels that her work was a waste of time. It was in vain.

  A person can feel that way about their job. You might work long and hard on a project, putting many hours into it, only to see it rejected and not even used. A waste of time, it was in vain.

  Those who feel as if their work was a waste of time, feel used, unappreciated and they second guess themselves. Maybe I should have done something else instead. Maybe I ought to do something else.

  Paul wondered if his work was in vain. His work was preaching. The Galatians had received the word and started the journey as Christians. After Paul left, Jewish influences came in and stirred things up. Some were doubting. Some were abandoning. Paul felt like his work was a waste of time.

  This presents an interesting thought before us, and that is the responsibility of listeners after the sermon has been preached. Often we spend a lot of time talking about the role of the preacher, and rightly so, but little is said about the role of the listeners, especially after the lesson has been given. Even the best of preachers, and Paul would be high on that list, is not doing much good if the audience does not sense the responsibility of learning, growing and changing.

  I don’t often get to sit in the audience any more, I’m usually the one preaching. But I’ve been there. It’s easy to day dream, to let your mind go to “la-la” land, or to think about things you need to do when you get home. I know. I’ve done that. I know folks do that when I preach. You hear bits and pieces but not much else. We go home and few things change. We know. We’ve heard it before. We’re pretty good people.

  The Galatians knew. The Galatians had left the Jewish system for Christ. They knew the answers to the Jewish influences. They were being pulled that way and didn’t see where it was taking them. Poor Paul. He must have wondered what more could he have done.

  It’s not the preaching that we are talking about, it’s the gospel of Christ. Do we make it vain by not being moved, challenged and changed by it? On a Tuesday, does the Gospel of Christ affect us? It ought to. Does it make me realize that I belong to the King and I am His citizen. I am to be righteous. I am to be His light. I am His voice. I am His eyes in this world.

  Paul “feared” for the Galatians. I fear that by Tuesday we are so busy working and living that what happened on Sunday doesn’t register on our radar. I fear that we live in two worlds, the world of Sunday where God is ever before us, and the world that makes up the rest of the week, where we are not ungodly, just not God– conscious.

  I read a quote years ago that really stuck with me. It said, “Live as if one foot is already in Heaven.” The Bible says it this way, “set your mind on things above” or “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” One foot already in Heaven. Almost there. What a powerful thought.

  Live for Christ every day, every moment. The decisions you make—Christ based. The choices you make—Christ based. The attitude you choose today—Christ based. The way you drive—Christ based. Your words—Christ based. Your clothing—Christ based. Your choice of TV shows to watch—Christ based.

  Live as if one foot is already in Heaven!

Roger