Leaven: Galatians 5:7-12
We all need people like Paul who can ask us to reflect on our life and our choices. A good friend is like a mirror who allows us to see ourselves through their eyes. A good friend gives us an opportunity to see ourselves in a way we cannot otherwise see.
A little leaven leavens the whole dough. Frequently we interpret this expression as a good thing. Leaven is what turns unleavened breads like matzoh or tortillas into airy breads like challah or sourdough. We often think this phrase tells us how daily practicing small good habits can reap great rewards over the long term. In fact, this premise is exactly the thought upon which this blog is built.
There isn’t anything wrong with using the expression about leaven in this manner. However, it isn’t the only way to use this expression. All this expression tells us is that small things can have grand effects given enough time or power to work.
When Paul uses this expression about leaven, he is using it as a negative example. The Galatians were doing well responding to God’s promise. Then some false teachers came into their midst and the community changed. The community fragmented as the false teachers taught other things besides Jesus were necessary. These false teachers are the leaven; Paul fears their teaching will leaven the whole community. Paul fears the changes the false teachers brought to the community will disrupt if not destroy the whole community.
There is a great lesson to learn here. In the same way that small daily habits can lead to significantly good changes within us, small daily changes can trickle into our life and lead to significantly bad changes. If we are not vigilant, bad habits develop and take away from the way God made us. If we allow poor patterns of thought to linger, we can become angry or bitter rather than being a beacon of God’s love and joy.
Paul doesn’t let the Galatians off the hook. He reminds the Galatians they had been responding so well to God’s promise. He then asks them what hinders them from obeying the truth. Paul holds them accountable. He forces them to examine their choices and response to faith.
There is power in accountability. None of us are immune to poor habits creeping into our life. None of us are immune from the influences of others. If we are not careful, the leaven of life creeps into our being and competes with the person God desires us to be. When people hold us accountable, though, we receive an opportunity to think and reflect. When people hold us accountable, we have an opportunity to see who we are becoming from an outside perspective. Accountability helps prevent small, nearly imperceptible changes from growing large enough to impact us significantly. We all need people like Paul who can ask us to reflect on our life and our choices.
