Don’t Give Up! - November 24

Read Galatians 6:9-10

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are in the household of faith.

Reflect

Prayerfully consider how generous you were with your time, money, and talents this past year. How will you continue or increase blessing others with the things that God has given you this year?

Have you ever grown weary of doing good? Maybe you’ve gotten frustrated at your local church because it feels like only a small percentage of the congregation are serving your church family. Maybe you feel like your service goes unnoticed and your job is a thankless one. Or maybe times are getting harder and you are tempted to stop giving generously. If you’ve been there or if that’s how you are feeling right now, I get it. I think we’ve all felt that way from time to time.

In today’s verses though, Paul has some encouragement for us. He urged us not to grow weary of doing good and he reminded us that if we don’t give up, we’ll reap a harvest of blessing in due time. That’s the key—in due time.

If you’ve ever planted a garden, then you know that in the spring it’s exciting to get those seeds in the ground. You are looking forward to the harvest in the fall and can’t wait to see the fruit of your labor. But at some point in the summer, most people grow weary of tending the garden. It’s a lot of work to keep it watered and weeded. It’s annoying to keep problem solving about how to keep the pests out for good. But if you give up now and neglect the garden, it will affect the quality of your harvest. It’s worth it to persevere now despite your feelings and keep at it. Your future self will thank you.

It’s the same with doing good works. Oftentimes, we start off strong. We recognize everything that Christ freely did for us and we want to let our light shine before men and glorify our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16). But after a while, the spiritual high wears off and we get burnt out. We may not see the fruit of our spiritual labor right away, so we get discouraged and want to quit. But if we give up now, it will affect the quality of our harvest of blessings.

Now, I want to be clear. Paul is not suggesting that if we get spiritually weary and stop doing good that we will lose our salvation. Our salvation is secure in Christ. Paul has spent a great deal of time in Galatians making sure everyone understands that we are not saved by our works but by God’s grace! Good works accomplished in the Spirit are evidence of our salvation but they are not the basis for it. When we accept Christ, we are invited to join in tending His garden, sowing seeds and nurturing them until harvest time. But we can miss out on the rewards and blessings that God has promised we will reap if we quit before harvest time.

That is why Paul urged the Galatian believers to “do good to everyone” as long as they have an opportunity. His point wasn’t that you sit around and wait for opportunities to serve to pop up. His point was that while you are alive, you have ample opportunities to serve this world in Jesus’ name. The growing season is our opportunity to tend the garden. So get after it! As long as we are alive and able, we should be serving.

But who should we serve? Paul clarified that just as caring for our immediate families is our first priority, so serving our family of believers should be our first priority. But that doesn’t mean we should exclude nonbelievers. In fact, our loving kindness and selfless service to others is a testimony that can draw nonbelievers to Christ. Paul said we are to do good to everyone, believers and nonbelievers alike.

Friends, I know it can be discouraging to put in so much effort and see so little immediate rewards. But remember, it’s not harvest time yet. If we don’t grow weary and we keep on doing the good works that God has for us to do, we will reap a bountiful harvest of blessings from God in due time. So be encouraged and don’t give up!

Respond

Lord, I confess that sometimes I get discouraged and weary from the work that You have given me to do. It is hard to stay motivated to keep at it when the gratification is delayed rather than immediate. Strengthen me and encourage me to keep doing the good works that You have prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10). I want to faithfully and diligently serve You and Your body until harvest time. Amen.

Reveal

How can you encourage someone who faithfully serves in your local church this week? Thank them and let them know they’ve made a difference in your spiritual life.