Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 6
Paul had an open heart to anyone that was with Jesus. And he would
protect his heart from anyone who wasn’t. “Makes no difference to
me,” sounds harsh but it’s a statement of alignment and priority. His
decision and his loyalty are primarily influenced in/by his relationship
with Jesus. And played out, that might look harsh to some… And
that’s ok…
He makes a statement here that is one to remember. God shows
personal favoritism to no man… Not a person that has ever lived has
been more important than any other in the heart of God. This one is
not easy to navigate in terms of my own and your own conduct.
Because while showing partiality is sin, (several places in the Bible
including James 2, Deuteronomy 10, Romans 2, Ephesians 6, and Acts
10), God takes pleasure in those who love Him, which is wonderful
and good.
So, for me, for you, it’s an issue really of the heart. Some folks we
mesh with because they are good to us, but the folks we don’t mesh
with (different life goals typically), do we degrade their importance to
us (which is ok) or do we degrade their importance to the Lord (which
is not ok). Because even those that we don’t get along with are as
important as you are to the Lord…
Different life goals…, it’s ok to degrade their importance to us
personally? Of course! I’m not saying to be unloving or uncaring or
ungraceful AT ALL. What I’m saying is how can two walk together
unless they are in agreement? (Amos 3:3) What I’m saying is 2
Corinthians 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with
unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?
And what communion has light with darkness.” What I’m saying
church is Romans 16:17, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who
cause divisions and offenses (obstacles; ESV) (also can be translated,
ok with hurting others), contrary to the doctrine which you learned,
and avoid them.”
It’s the prayer life. That’s the measurement. Will you remember them
in your prayers with a heart of love… Even though they are the
opposite of your favorite? That’s a good measurement. AND,
consistency in your dealings with folks. The moment you treat
someone differently than another in an identical situation…, that could
be an easy target for the enemy to mess things up! Because you
typically are tempted to lie to get out of it if you’re called to the carpet
regarding your unfair behavior…
Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 7 – 10
I love this! Problem solved in a Godly way! Recognizing that we each
have our ministries but they are different. And they don’t have to be
the same, look the same or even administrate the same. God has called
you to the circumcision? Great! Go for it, Peter! God has called you,
Paul, to the gentiles? Great! Go for it! They were dealing with
different kinds of people who needed a different style and emphasis,
but the same message!
“When they saw the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed
to Paul,” Peter, James and John listened for what was the message and
the motivation of what Paul and Barnabas were telling them and they
perceived/discerned and understood that it was the gospel and grace
(or better said, the grace of God through the gospel/testimony of Jesus
Christ), hey…! That’s it! We are IN!
So, Paul has his calling which he is sure of and Paul has alignment
with those really in a position of authority…, anyone else who seems
be something, whatever they were it makes no difference. Words of
Paul… Pretty awesome!
The only thing asked of Paul would be that he remembers the poor
throughout his ministry which is a reference actually to the
church/believers in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem first century
although it was gaining steam and growing in number, business was
bad. The Jewish/Judaist culture was certainly not embracing those that
no longer followed the law of Moses… And so financially there was
struggle…
There was also a famine at this time. Acts 11:27-30 we read, “And in
these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of
them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was
going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also
happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each
according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren
dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the
hands of Barnabas and Saul.”
Paul’s response was generosity and sharing and even being mindful of
the financial needs of Peter, James and John…, all that wasn’t
something he had to do… But was something he was eager to do! The
appropriate response from someone who realizes they’ve received so
much…, an eagerness to give and to share… A ministry of the
presence of God on earth (which is also an echo of our original
nature…, a manifestation of a redeemed nature)!
Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 11 – 13
The gospel to the Jew and the gospel to the gentile comes toe to toe in
this scene. But this isn’t a UFC octagon, this is an inflection point.
Paul is using sharp language but again, the motivation of Peter and the
motivation of Paul are the same. That’s why Peter gave Paul the right
hand of fellowship in the first place.
Interesting here…, Barnabas gets “carried away” with this hypocrisy
(Paul’s word) also. Peter and Barny no doubt are respecting their
Jewish brethren. Avoiding an opportunity for them to stumble and be
offended… They live in Jerusalem, around almost all Jews…, and here
they are in Antioch, let’s take is slowly (no doubt their motivation),…
But their serving of one group causes great offense of another. Do you
see that? So, what should be done? An inflection point… Paul’s ticked
and he is the writer of this book so we get his default words under the
direction of the Holy Spirit. Peter decided not to write about this… I
am SURE his account would have been written under the same
guidance, with the same message, but with perhaps completely
different words and even tone…
One will be served, one will be hurt. That’s a problem. So, what must
we do…? Well, we will never please everyone. That’s a first piece of
information to know…, but the servant of the King must always seek
to please the King. That’s what servants do…., they serve. We are
about to see what Paul wrote in Galatians 1:10 played out, “For do I
now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still
pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” And there you
have it. When in a sticky situation like we see here, like we will all
face all the time as we walk in Christ in this upside-down world, when
the chips fall, what matters is what is right in the eyes of God!