8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
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,
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Before they became believers, the Galatians had been enslaved to idolatry. Why now did hey want to turn back to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world and be slaves now to the law (observing days and months and seasons and years)? Paul was concerned that his labour over them may have been in vain.
Paul had become like them by living with them and eating with them (not separate like the Jews, 1 Cor 9:21-22; Gal 2:15). He had enjoyed the freedom from the law that the Gentiles had. Now he wants them to become like him—free from the law. Why is it that we feel the need to do something in our own strength to please God. If we could ever please God through our own strength, then we wouldn’t need a Saviour.
Paul had preached to the Galatians because of a physical condition, likely a problem with his eyes (“if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me”). They had received him as a messenger (“angel”) of God, as Christ. They had been a real blessing to Paul. But then they had begun to treat him as their enemy. Why did Paul become their enemy by telling them the truth? Consider your life. Who have you rejected or become an enemy to because they spoke truth into your life? Sometimes the truth hurts and we reject the messenger because we don’t want to deal with the sin in our lives. Don’t be like the Galatians and reject the truth to follow a lie. The Judaizers had “made much of them”, meaning they had pursued them with zeal. They had made a fuss of the Galatians and won them over but to no good end. Paul reminds them that it’s always good to pursue things with zeal, but only for a good purpose. What is it you are pursuing with zeal, or being strongly enticed towards? Is your energy and passion being focussed on a good purpose?