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This verse is taken from:
Galatians 4. 1-11
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“search the scriptures” John 5:39
Slaves or sons? Bondage or blessing? Infants or heirs? The verses are replete with stark contrasts. Paul had little sympathy with those who sought to mingle law with grace, to add Mosaic requirements to redemptive glory. To highlight the vast difference between what was once the portion of a devout Jew under the law, and the wealth which the believer in Christ now possesses, he employed striking and eloquent contrasts.
He likened the period when Israel was the law to days of infancy, a time when the son differed nothing from the slave in terms of enjoying the inheritance. This infancy was marked by being in bondage to the law, described as the ‘elements of the world’. He further characterized this as ‘the weak and beggarly elements’, v. 9.
The ‘elements’ can be thought of as the ABCs of truth. It was part of an early education but had no place for sons, heirs, and those marked by maturity.
He described the law as ‘weak and beggarly’. In its weakness, it could not emancipate. In its beggarliness, it could not enrich.
What had caused this great change? What emancipating, liberating, enriching and maturing event had occurred? ‘When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son’, v. 4. Now they not only knew God, but were known by Him, v. 9, loved, accepted and brought into the family of God as sons. As a result, God had sent forth the Spirit of His Son in their (our) hearts, making all conscious of that relationship.
Having been brought into sonship, v. 7, heirship v. 7, and the liberty which redemption has brought, v. 5, why would they want to return to the ABCs of the law with all its enslavement and frustration? The redemptive work of Christ had brought them into all the wealth that grace could bestow.
Are we guilty at times of returning to that which cannot enrich? Are we guilty of occupation with the beggarly things that impoverish? With the weak things, which do not strengthen us for God? The fullness of the time has come and with it the fullness of divine blessing and wealth.
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