Do Not Give Up

Galatians 6:9 ~ "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

I am convinced that every Christian will face that moment--or multiple moments along the way--where they believe that all their effort is of so little value that it is like planting dead seeds into hardened soil. But, I want to take this moment today to encourage you to do as the Apostle Paul writes and not give up.

It is hard for us to fathom the idea that we have little control of the results of our effort. We work, strive and labor for the Lord Jesus in this sin-sick world and then look to the potential harvest that will be reaped in the near future. We give our time to the service of our King and expect--perhaps even demand--that the sprouts of life will quickly spring up from our efforts. But that lost person still walks away, that difficult person still strives in chaos and those harsh circumstances of life are just as troubling. The sinner remains unrepentant and the way is still fraught with peril.

We sigh, groan and wonder why the LORD allows us to labor in such seeming futility. But is it really futile? Are there no evidences at all of the LORD working through your labors? 

The first thing to see is that the LORD is pleased with your sacrificial effort. Hebrews 13:16 states, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." In truth, the pleasure of God Almighty ought to be enough to satisfy the heart of every believer. Knowing that God looks with delight upon your willingness to do good and share what you have must be the first spark of fire that ignites the blaze of faithfulness to the LORD. Dear ones, you don't do well because you have been successful, you do well because you have been faithful. Jesus our Lord told us this in Matthew 25:21, "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'"

The second stanza in the chorus of perseverance is to realize that the world does take note of your faithfulness. They may not like it--or even want to see it--but they do take note of it. Peter reminds us of this in 1 Peter 2:12, "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." There will come that day when the LORD Jesus returns. On that day, your testimony of faithful perseverance in this world will stand as a rebuke against them, for they saw in you the willing faithfulness to the LORD despite the antagonism and difficulties that you experienced. Romans 12:20 says, "To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.'" 

Beloved, there is a "due season" coming. A harvest will be reaped. It may not happen while you're doing the work of planting seeds or watering (see 1 Corinthians 3:6-8). Paul says that "we" will reap. It is a joint effort of labor, both the planting and the harvesting. You may reap the harvest of another servant's planting. Others may reap the harvest of yours. But the planter and the reaper will rejoice together, for it is the work not of one individual, but of all who belong to Christ. Jesus told us in John 4:36, "Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together."

So, do not let your heart be troubled with the weariness of despair. There are times when rest is needed (see Mark 6:31). But, my friends, do not give up. God sees your labor and is pleased with your faithfulness to Him. Let His delight over you ever sustain you in the work that He has given.

In His Grace,
​Pastor Michael

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