Lesson 18: Serving for the Right Reasons
Read Galatians 4:1-31 - www.bible.com/bible/59/gal.4
12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,
19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.


Jesus, through Paul, continues in our verses today to remind us how easy it is for us to want to serve ourselves rather than God. We begin with good intentions to love God with all our heart and soul and mind, and then love our neighbors as we love ourselves. But soon something happens to call our attention to ourselves and what we think we want and need.

In Paul’s case, he had taught these Christians God’s way. But now others had come in to tempt them with working toward bettering their lives themselves, rather than letting God change them from the inside.

These verses today remind us that whenever we begin to concentrate on things we want, we begin a downward spiral which leads only to slavery again. Read our verses for today a second time. In Verse 12 Paul says they did him no wrong – were they suddenly feeling guilty over something someone said they should have done differently when Paul was with them? Verse 13 suggests this as Paul says when he came to them he was ill, and that his illness was a trial to them (Verse 14). But they loved him and cared for him without thought of themselves. Verse 16 suggests they were letting their guilt build a wall between themselves and Paul. But Paul insists he loves them as unselfishly as he ever has.

Guilt and fear and shame will always separate us from those God wants us to love as He loves us. When we allow any of these to take hold in our hearts or minds, they will always be used by Satan to not only separate us from people but also from God’s wonderful presence in our life.

 *What shame or fear or guilt is separating you from an awareness of God’s presence and from people who need to hear about Jesus’ love for them today?