As we have studied through
chapter five of Galatians, Paul the apostle has been very thorough
with the church members and us about the reasons that attempting to
return to obedience to the law for salvation is an error. The flesh
nature manifests itself in such a way that it is contrary to the law,
and without the fruit of the spirit within our lives, we will not
live according the way God desires. However, if we are led and walk
in God's spirit, we will have no need of the law, for we will obey
it. Paul gives one final exhortation to the church members in chapter
five and verse twenty-six as he ends this chapter. He wrote:
Let us not be desirous
of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Paul
begins with, “Let us not...” which means “don't allow
it”, “don't cause it to be so”, and it infers there is a
choice. We may “allow it” if we are able to “not allow it”,
and Paul encourages them toward obedience and simply “do not allow
it”. However, what is it that Paul desires that they not allow?
First,
Paul says, “Let us not be desirous of vain glory,...” Vain
glory is “glorying without reason, conceited, and empty credit”.
Oh how easy it is to pursue vain glory among other people. People
enjoy getting praise. They enjoy having someone make over them
greatly, and they enjoy having a false pretense of obtaining the
credit for some accomplishment or status. Paul says “us” which
means he possibly had a propensity toward this idea too. Nonetheless
we are encouraged by him to not be desirous of such a pride filled
venue.
Secondly,
Paul adds, “...provoking one another”.
“Provoking” has the idea of “calling forth; challenge to
a combat or contest with another person; to provoke or irritate.”
The Galatians were not to be challenging one another as in arguments
and confrontations. Often when people disagree with one another,
especially when they differ in matters of the flesh and spirit, they
confront one another and act combative. The Galatians were not to
participate in such divisive actions.
Finally Paul tells the
Galatians they were not to be, “...envying one another.”
We shared together about “envy” when we listed the manifestations
of the flesh. It means someone else has something we desire, and we
want it for ourselves. It is love threatened from within, and makes
the person who envies feel less valuable if they do not possess what
another has. The Galatians were not to be this way. If they were led
by the spirit of God, and they walked in the Spirit, they would not
be envious of anyone, and their satisfaction within would come from
their relationship with Jesus Christ.
These are quite the traits
that Paul has challenged us with today. We should ask, “Are we
puffed up with pride and conceit and desirous of “vain glory”? Do
we tend to “provoke one another” with argumentative doctrine and
combative ideas? Are we “envying one another” and feel that we
are somehow not as valuable within because we do not have what
another has? These questions and more should be our meditation today
as we finish this chapter in Galatians, and perhaps the words of Paul
will encourage us toward the value of walking in God's spirit in
every moment of our lives.
Next time we will begin a new chapter and discover what Paul has to
say about when we are taken in a fault, so read ahead, and let us
join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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