In the main we are all trying to live up to some kind of standard. Sometimes the most miserable are those who are trying to keep to all the rules. The reason being so is because if only it was only themselves they were focusing on but no, they want everyone else to show due diligence in keeping the same rules as them.
In Christ we are Abraham’s seed and heirs to the promise of God. That is what Paul has just said and now …
“What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.” (Galatians 4 v 1-3)
Paul has told us the Law was our tutor (3:24-25) and here he speaks of the ‘basic principles’ (see the footnote NIV) that held us as slaves waiting for a time when we would be set free.
What were those basic principles? Paul is going to speak more about them in a few verses time. But in the context of what we have been reading and the problem Paul is addressing it is connected to the need to work for the approval of God. The Gentiles were being taught that if you come to Christ you must also take on circumcision and other rules to be accepted by God.
2024: the one major basic principle of life is still “Unless you work hard you will not succeed.”
In itself it is not a bad principle but we must not let it impact our relationship with God.
Remember this story?
• “There was a man who had two sons…Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.” He was the greatest slave on the farm. Why was this wrong? He was a son. “All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders.” He makes it sound like hard work. A great slave makes for a lousy son.
➢ We need to learn how to embrace the Father’s love without working for it.
• “But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.” You may long for a blessing from your Father but deep and unresolved hurts can prevent that.
➢ We need to take our eyes off others and place them on Him who loves us
• “But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” The Father is saying you never asked, you never put yourself in the position to receive.
➢ We need not to waste life on trying to keep the rules and yet never knowing the Father and His love and His house of joy!
Missions Paul 