Don’t Grow Weary In Doing Good
"So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest.” (Gal. 6:9 Complete Jewish Bible)
“So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued
doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up,
or quit.” (Gal. 6:9-10 The Message)
Everyone gets tired.
We get weary of doing good things. Often then we end up just complaining about
our situations.
I was doing that on
the way home from work. The day had been a bit draining, preparing the usual accounting
reports month after month. My heart just wasn’t in it. I had been expecting to
be at another position in my life, rather than to be doing what I had done 30
years ago. I know the Lord has His plan and purpose for me being there, in the
marketplace setting, but sometimes I just don’t get the reasoning behind it.
From my perspective, I could be more effective for His kingdom doing other
things, in another place. That which I really had hoped to be doing by now. I
have to remind myself that He is wise, and know what He is doing. I must rest
in that.
But while driving the
usual 45 minute commute home from the uptown office, in the normal heavy
traffic, I started complaining in my head of the good deeds I had done, involving
several people, and yet hadn’t seen much harvest from those seeds sown. Having
had some farming life experience while growing up in Minnesota and Iowa, I
understood the comparison in the natural - of preparing the ground, sowing the
seed, and waiting months before the harvest is ready. I get that. But I was
just getting a bit tired in waiting for my harvest to come, in the spiritual, after
years of sowing and not seeing the expected abundance of fruit.
After sending off
another complaint heavenward, the Lord responded back to me, “Look what I did
for you.” I knew exactly what He meant. His life laid down, His death on the cross,
and the example He had set for me to follow. I stopped my complaining
immediately.
We all get worn out at
times. It is the time when we are most vulnerable to the lies of the enemy; our
own flesh kicking up, or allowing the stress of the day weigh our souls down,
in our mind, will and emotions. One reason why the Lord established a weekly
day of rest and giving to us in our sleep, as the Word says.
To battle back the
weariness, so we can maintain our giving, we need to allow the Lord to give us
rest. In America, there is no longer a set day when there is no shopping or
work. We can see the results in sickness and stress. This has not been the
expected decrease in either, due to our new time management. And as we have
gone against the wisdom of the Lord, we have reaped the long term results.
Many times the
distractions that deter us will rob us of the more important tasks we are called
to do. Constantly saying yes to everything that comes our way begins to take
its toll, leaving us with little or nothing to give for the more important
relationships and events in our lives.
In our desire to
bless, we must also keep in mind that proper care of our spirit, soul and body
will then permit us to do more. The complaining doesn’t work. The Lord actually
turns His ear away from us. Remember Moses and the Hebrews in the wilderness?
Being in His presence
in prayer and reading of His Word on a regular basis will energize our spirit.
We need to keep ready in all seasons and not grow weary. We have a lot of life
to give, as His Holy Spirit works through us.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Love For His People
Founder
