The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 375

III. THIii KNOWLEDGE OP SUCH A LAW OF SOW'INIJ AND REAPING JS A WARNING AGAINST JNSJN0EBJTY. It ie vain to shut our eye8 to it. Natnre is pitilessly inexorable, and here we are considering a law of nature which is as rigid as the law of gravitation. Deception may avail with men, bnt here we have God's action, and no Aubterfuge can escape his detection. There is a sort of irony on our petty schemes and contrivances In the calm, sure way in which the laws of the universe work out their issues, totally regardless of what we may imagine or pretend. Yet we are In danger of self-deception. 1. The harvest ie delayed. The result is not the less certain, however, on that acconnt. Seeds found bnried with Egyptian mummies thousands of years ago when sown now bear fruit after their kind, with as little deviation as if they bad been produced la.et harvest. 2. We expect more consequences than the l!!iw of gowing and reaping justifies. Thus we are surprised that bad men should be prosperous in worldly matters and good men unfortunate. • But each reaps as be sows. He who sows to the world reaps worldly gain, with its ultimate corruption. He who sows only to the Spirit bas no right to eitpect more than spiritual returns. His harvest will be eternal life, not money and pleasure.. He gets· just what be sows, only with increase. Finally, how can we reconcile this principle with the gospel of Christ and the doctrine of grace? Simply by seeing that to have a true submissive and obedient faith in Christ is to sow to the Spirit.-W. F. A. • Ver. 9.'- Weariness in well-doing. L THE CONDITION OP WEA RTh'EBS m WELL-DOINO. 1. It is a feeling, not at present a change of action. 'l'be well-doing is continued in spite of weariness. Our moods vary, and we can scarcely be held to be responsible for them. 'l'he essential thing is that we do not cease working. 2. It is very different from being weary o/well-tloing. We !llay grow weary in our work and yet be most anxious for the success of it; •Such weariness is a common condition. How often is the flesh weak while the spirit is willing l How often is the spirit, too, wearily cleaving to the dust, a and pining for Divine inspiration, like the hart thirsting and panting for the water- brooks ! II. Tri EVIL OF THis CONDITION, 1. It is distressing. The task over which we sing in the freshness of the.morning becomes a. burden to groan under when the evening finds us jaded and worn._ 2. It is likely to make our work defective. We cannot row fast when· the stream turns contrary to us, nor work effectively against the grain. 3. It niay lead to the abandonment of our mission. Weariness may end in despair. If we have no joy in our work we shall be tempted to negligence. III. '.THE CAUSES OF THIS CONDITION. 1. In ourselves. (1) Want of rest. "Come ye aside and rest awhile," said Christ to his disciples in the midst of their busiest lab.ours. (2) Want of 11.ourishment. We grow weary if we work long without food. '!'here is a danger lest the active servant of Christ should neglect his own private prayer and meditation and the quiet inward spiritual sustenance that is so necessary to give vigour and freshness to the external service. 2. Causes in our work. (1) Monotony and drudgery. How much of our work has no glow of romance and no inspiration of heroism about it! The soldier grows tired of camp service, though he would put forth tenfold exertions in the excitement of battle without feeling weary. (2) Lack of results. It of~n looks. as though we were labouring in vain. Now, futile toil is of all toil the most. wearying. IV. THE REMEDY -FOR THIS WEARINESS. 1. If it comes from our own habits a.nu conclitions, see that we have the rest and nooriilhment that our souls need. We must be more with God in prayer. Natural bodily rest may be needed too. A good holiday may be the best cure for a weariness that sadly troubles the soul of a conscientious toiler. 2. If the weariness comes from our work, (1) remember that Christ is watching ua, so that the commonest drudgery done for his sake becomes a. noble service and will receive 11s wartn an approval as the most brilliant achievement-nay, a more kindly recognition, seeing \.hat it was more trying to discharge the lowly duty with full fidelity• and (2) remember that the harvest, though delaye,l, will surely be reaped in Jue tim'e,-then "they that sow in tears shall reap in joy."-W. F. A.