Thursday, October 6, 2011

Weary in Well-Doing

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary" (Galatians 6:9)

Have you ever been just plain "bone-tired," beloved? I know that I have! You know the feeling: achy joints, sore muscles, a mind wearied by thinking your way through the events of the day. Those are days when nothing feels any better than to collapse into my recliner and kick back for a nap!

It is infinitely possible as well for us as Christians to become "weary in well doing" as the King James Version puts it. Here the term translated "weary" is the Greek word ekkakeo which means "turn out to be bad." The sense of the word here is that of becoming fainthearted or wanting to give up. I personally prefer the meaning given here by the New American Standard translation: "lose heart." Whatever your preference in translation, however, clearly this is a word with which every true believer has become intimately acquainted at one time or another!

The term "grow weary" is from the Greek word ekluo which means "loose out of" or "set free from" in the sense of just plain giving up. Both words, then, carry the idea of becoming weary in service and cashing in as a result. Unfortunately, sometimes the problem with us is not that of becoming weary in serving the Lord at all. As Dr. John MacArthur has said: "Sometimes, of course, the problem is not spiritual weariness but spiritual laziness, becoming weary from doing nothing rather than from 'doing good.'"

When we as Christians are faithful in serving the Lord, even when and especially on those occasions when we become weary in doing so, we have God's wonderful assurance that our efforts shall reap a divine harvest if only we won't give up. Now the timing may not be to our liking at all, as the term "in due time" reveals. "Due time" is always God's time, beloved, and we must never lose sight of that. When we determine to hold on and remain faithful, God determines that we shall reap His harvest.

Are you right now "weary in well-doing"? Then may I encourage you in the Lord to keep right on staying the course! Keep right on working, serving, and even sacrificing. God is not unaware of your service and He is fully aware of your circumstances. The goal is reachable and the harvest is guaranteed. Let us not lose heart! God bless you as you stay the course!

Ron