Passing the Blame

Today, we pick up our study in Galatians 6:5 which says,“For every man shall bear his own burden.” Ultimately, God holds us responsible and no one else for our burdens. Unfortunately, we live in a society today in which it’s everybody else’s fault. We, as a society, take no personal responsibility for anything anymore. Well, it’s nothing new. When God confronted Adam for his sin in the Garden of Eden after taking the “forbidden fruit”, Adam responded, “It was the woman that you gave me.” In other words, it’s either her fault or yours, but not mine.

Changing subjects here, v.6 says, “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” In other words, the minister should be compensated. It’s amazing how we’ll pay the mechanic to fix our car, the doctor to fix our ills, the school teacher to educate our children, and not want to pay the preacher who ministers to us in the Word. 1 Timothy 5:18 says, “For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."

I’ve known so many pastors who are virtually on the edge of starvation because their churches simply will not pay them a decent salary. How sad that is. I don’t think that a pastor should necessarily make more than the average member of the congregation, but nothing says that he should make less either. A man should be worth his salt. If he works hard and serves the congregation well, he should be rewarded accordingly. If he is a lazy sluggard that simply shows up on Sunday morning and delivers a half-hearted message to the people, he should also be rewarded accordingly. In the case of the former, honor and cherish that man of God for being faithful and count yourselves blessed. In the case of the latter, find yourselves a new pastor.

Notice v.7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” God’s laws will stand regardless of how one feels about them. Here we also see the law of spiritual investment. The way you invest is the way you’re going to reap. In other words, you get back what you put into it. Put much, get much – put little, get little. That’s life my friend.