Galatians 4:17-20

Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

(v17-18, NIV)

It seemed at first that those at the church in Galatia truly accepted the gospel that Paul preached to them. However, now they were turning away from it and to other things. They were being persuaded by these things that were not the one true gospel that Paul preached. You might even go far enough to say that they were allowing themselves to be persuaded. Paul is pointing out that they are being persuaded over by these things by other people. However, he has to step back and make sure they don't misunderstand what he says. Paul doesn't mean that it's wrong to be zealous for something. What's wrong is to be zealous over something of ill purpose. Purpose matters and it's not simply about whether you're fired up about something. I can be all fired up about throwing darts, but really, are throwing darts of good purpose? Or is the reason why I'm zealous over it of good purpose? The next thing Paul has to clear is up the idea that you should be consistent. If what you're zealous about is of good purpose, then that's good. However, it is important to always be zealous about something that is of good purpose. If you are zealous about something but only sometimes, then you're not really being zealous.

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

(v19-20, NIV)

Paul is clearly worried about those at the church in Galatia. Those people he is so heartfelt for them that he compares it to the pains of childbirth. He desperately wishes them to have an intimate and true relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He wishes to go there and be with them and correct them and ensure that they are on the right path. It is painful for him to see them straying. As a believer, I find it hard and difficult to see those in my family straying. Similarly, if I have a dear friend whom I see straying from the Lord, I am also deeply perplexed and worried.