Over the past twenty‑five years as a Christian, I’ve visited many churches, and one thing has stood out in many of them is that, in nearly every congregation, they offer a wide range of ministries designed to draw people in or keep their members busy. Some of the larger, more progressive churches offer nursery care, singles events, seniors’ groups, painting classes etc. often highlighted at the forefront of their websites or displayed on large screens in the sanctuary in high definition. My aim here isn’t to debate whether such programs are inherently good or bad[1]. Instead, I want to press into the deeper issue of motivation. Why do churches promote and participate in these kinds of ministries? Are they genuinely seeking to enrich the lives of individuals? Is it a means of glorifying God? Or, are they trying to compete with other churches and ward off sheep stealers? Are they hoping to maintain financial support? Are leaders, immersed in celebrity culture, trying to validate their ministry by pointing to these visible activities? While many believers and leaders may desire to operate from sincere and godly intentions, I am convinced that a subtle thread of self‑idolization still manages to weave its way in. None of us are immune to it. We are sinners, and the human heart has a remarkable ability to seek its own glory even amid ministries. And before any of my conservative fundamentalist brethren cheer too loudly, the same questions apply to you as well. In your circles, the temptation often takes the form of check listing church activities. Why are you doing outreach? What is your ultimate purpose in visiting the shut-ins? What drives the impulse to correct a young girl’s clothing choice?
The question of motive must sit at the center of all we do—whether we are seeking the glory of man or truly the glory of God. Do we have the best intentions for our brethren or is the intention self-aggrandisement or the promotion of the institution we call our church. When Paul rebukes the Galatians for drifting from the gospel of grace, he reminds them of their past experiences and contrasts genuine ministry with the distorted version they were beginning to embrace. His words expose how quickly ministry can lose its way when motives shift. But even more importantly, he questions the motives of those who were attempting to woo them on their side.
The Text
I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. (Galatians 4:11-20)
The Spiritual Father Speaks
At this point in the letter, Paul’s tone shifts noticeably. Having laid out the theological case, he now speaks as a spiritual father pleading with his children. His concern is not abstract but deeply personal. He worries that the Galatians are on the verge of abandoning the gospel, and with that, all the labor, hardship, and sacrifice he endured to bring them the truth might be rendered empty. If they embrace the Judaizers’ teaching, the fruit of his ministry among them would be undone. Paul fears that they will return to the same spiritual darkness and hopelessness from which the gospel had once rescued them.
The Mirror Man
The apostle to the Gentiles appeals to their former relationship in v.12, which was one of love, care and trust in hopes to get them off the wrong track. Paul pleads with them to “become as I am, for I also have become as you are”. This is not the first time that Paul asks his readers to become as he is (1 Corinthians 4:6; Philippians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). The only difference is that we are not explicitly told in this text what it is they are to imitate. What Paul is likely communicating here is that they become like him in the sense that they abandon their life in Judaism (Galatians 1:9), that they die to the law (Galatians 2:19) and finally that they do not place themselves under the law (Galatians 3:23-25). In return, Paul becoming like them is their state as Gentiles where they weren’t under the Sinaitic covenant (See 1 Corinthians 9:21). In other words, mirror me in my journey to freedom in the gospel.
The latter part of this verse probably fits better with v.13. During his initiation to the Galatians, they had not done the apostle any wrong. They greeted him and were completely pleasing to him in the way that they accepted him.
Sickness & Open Doors
V.13 begins with the expression “you know” meaning that they were fully aware of the circumstances of their relationship. The reason why he preached the gospel to them was due to a bodily illness or better yet a weakness of the flesh. There have been many theories put forward as to what Paul is referring to here[2]. The expression “weakness of the flesh” is also used in Romans 6:17 where it refers to a spiritual state but the term astheneia does seem to have a primary understanding of a physical ailment (1 Timothy 5:23). Most interpreters however feel that it has to do with a physical illness mainly related to his eye (v.15). Their care for him was that which prompted him to share the gospel with them. He had an open door to preach the good news and, much in line with any good preacher, he took the opportunity.
This ailment may have tempted the Galatians to reject him but on the other hand, they didn’t. They didn’t do any malicious or rejected him, but they accepted him. The term “loathes” here could be translated as to spit out something that is unappealing to the taste. This wasn’t a casual opening of the door to a sick man, but they received him in the same way that they would have received an angel of God or the Lord Jesus Himself.
A Hostile Estrangement
Paul confronts them further in v. 15. Formerly, they had received him with open arms but now their conduct caused the apostle to ask where then is that sense of blessing you had? Or what has changed in the way you perceive me? What happened to this blessed relationship that they once had?
To drive the point home on just how devoted they were to the great apostle, Paul states that I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. They would have gone to such great lengths to bless him that they would have sacrificed their own body part to help him with his infirmity. But now, they are rejecting both him and his message.
The Nemesis
Paul asks a rhetorical question that should be on the lips of every Christian that is confronting others whether believers or unbelievers. We often are sharing the truth with others and in their eyes, we have become their nemesis. But in this context, Paul is attempting to wake up the Galatians about their demeanour towards the apostle and his attempt to share the purified truth of the gospel with them. Paul identifies this “truth” as the truth of the gospel earlier in the epistle (2:5, 14). The gospel was the truth, and the addition of the law to that gospel wasn’t.
Convert Hunters
As we mentioned in the introduction of the book, v.17, along with 6:12-13, are crucial in understanding the motive of the false teachers. While they attacked Paul’s character and authority, he is going to expose them in these very verses. While the Galatians were treating Paul as an enemy, it was the false teachers who were the real adversary.
These agitators are eagerly seeking you, meaning that they are in hot pursuit of the Gentile believers in Galatia but not for genuine motives. Paul adds the expression “not commendably” or “for no good” (NKJV), which is in complete contrast to the Corinthians motive for Paul (2 Corinthians 11:2). The false teachers’ motives were anything but sincere. They were not trying to shepherd the Galatians but to recruit them. Their strategy was to shut the believers out, most likely from Paul and from the gospel he had faithfully preached, so that the Galatians would turn to them for God’s truth. By creating relational and theological distance between Paul and the Galatian church, they hoped to draw the believers into their circle and away from the apostolic truth. Their zeal was real, but it was misdirected; they were passionately seeking converts but not caring for their souls.
Worthy of the Chase
In v. 18, we get a glimpse of how one should be sought. The Galatians should always desire to be sought after in a commendable and upright manner, not only when Paul is physically present. When Paul was with them, they experienced a godly, honorable pursuit. But in his absence, the false teachers stepped in and pursued them with motives that are anything but commendable. Paul is urging them to discern the difference.
Labour Pains
While the false teachers were looking for a notch in their belts in getting the Galatians on their side, Paul refers to them, in v.19, as his children. There is an affection expressed here for them. Paul uses the language of pregnancy and labour (and in return birth) to plead with the Galatians. Since the apostle was the one who in all likelihood planted the churches, he was in some sense the one who gave birth to them. Now, he needs to go through those birth pains again with them, but, because of his genuine love for them, he does so willingly! Paul had originally compared their conversion to being begotten through the gospel in Christ (1 Corinthians 4:15). In this case, it’s not necessarily their justification that he’s concerned with but their sanctification. The expression “Christ is formed” is probably synonymous with finding the fullness of Christ or being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29).
Desires
Finally, in v.20, the affections of the apostle are demonstrated by the expression of his desires. He wishes two things: (1) that he could be present with them and (2) that he could change his tone. Perhaps he’s implying here that speaking with them (in contrast to writing to them) would be so much better since if he was present with them, he could show them the tone that he truly wants to reflect. For this, he is perplexed about them.
Exhortation
This post was not meant to discourage people from engaging in ministries in their local congregations or that all pastor/elders are looking for self-glory. I don’t believe that is the case at all. My purpose is to get you, my readers, to think about the why. Why am I doing this? Why do I want to see a soul come to Christ and in return come to church? I would heartily recommend people get involved in their churches, I would exhort them to reflect in a time of prayer and constant reminders as to their motivations in their respective ministry. Ask yourself often whether your purpose is to glorify God and bless others or is sin entering into the ministry to stroke your ego. Ministries can be a blessing to others, but if they are entered into for the wrong reasons, they can be a spiritual detriment to those leading the ministry and especially those participating in it.
[1] These things become problematic when they take the place of worshipping God in holiness as the chief purpose for which believers assemble.
[2] Moo points out that some have related it to the thorn in the flesh of 2 Corinthians 12:7. But even that is challenging to interpret. Could it be a literal physical ailment or the results of the opposition that he underwent by those who were seeking his life? (Page 282)