Galatians 6:7-9

Galatians 6:7-9

[7] not  deceived;  God  not  mocked:  for  whatsoever  a man  soweth,  also  reap.  [8] For  he that soweth  to  his  flesh  of  the flesh  reap  corruption;  but  he that soweth  to  the Spirit  of  the Spirit  reap  life  everlasting.  [9] And  not  be weary  in well  doing:  for  in due  season  we shall reap,  if we faint  not. 

What does Galatians 6:7-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

If a person selfishly withholds what he has, he will not see God multiply it and bless him with it. If he follows the prompting of his sinful nature in his investments, he will reap death, but if he follows the Spirit, he will reap life. This is not saying he will necessarily die but that his sowing will yield a disappointing harvest. Neither is it saying that he can earn justification. It is saying that his sowing will yield the best harvest. Our harvest will suffer if we grow weary and stop sowing. Remember that the context of this section is the support of Christian workers, though these principles certainly have wider application.
"Paul here seems to regard the whole of a man"s earthly life as a period of sowing, with harvest awaiting him on the last day: the eschatological yield is determined by present sowing." [1]
The term "eternal life" has two different though related meanings in the New Testament. Essentially it is the life of God that He shares with believers. On the one hand, the New Testament writers spoke of it as a gift that one receives by faith ( John 10:28; et al.). However it also refers to the quality of the believer"s life that depends on the extent to which he or she walks with God in fellowship ( John 10:10). In this second sense, some believers experience eternal life to a greater extent than other believers do. It is in this second sense that Paul spoke of eternal life here. [2]
"It is extremely important to note that in every place where eternal life is presented as something which can be obtained by works, it is contextually always described as a future acquisition. Conversely, whenever eternal life is described as something in the present, it is obtained by faith alone." [3]
Paul did not refer to the concept of eternal life as much as John did.
The condition for this reward is not growing weary. The same expression describes a bowstring that has become unstrung. [4] What causes this sad state is losing heart. Giving up mentally leads to growing faint spiritually.
"It is easy for the servants of God to become discouraged: the opposition they meet is so constant and the good they are trying to do is so hard to accomplish." [5]