The Weariness of Well Doing
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
Intro: Why is doing well and getting weary in the same verse – not once, but twice?
Doing well is possible.
Genesis 4:7 tells us that doing well is a choice.
- Genesis 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
God will let you and I make our choices.
We can do well in our:
A. Acknowledgement of God
- James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
B. Afflictions for God
- 1 Peter 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
C. Administration of the work of God
- 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
- 1 Timothy 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
D. Attention to the Word of God
- 2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
E. Allegiance to the ministers of God (see Romans 13)
I Peter
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
F. Adhere to the commandments of God
- Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Why is doing well and getting weary in the same verse – not once, but twice?
WEARY: to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted
Many of God’s people are exhausted.
God’s men are fatigued.
So why are so many of God’s people weary?
I. The Turmoil of the World
The world we live in is in opposition to God and God’s people.
Illustration: When Bro. Buster Mullins was here a year or so ago, we sat in my office one morning fellowshipping and discussing the Bible. He shared an insight that has helped me tremendously. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, Peter and John could not stay awake. However, Judas Iscariot was not the least bit sleepy. He was burning midnight oil, betraying Jesus, recruiting soldiers, spreading lies, getting paid by the high priests to reveal the whereabouts of the Lord. Bro. Mullins shared this thought: “There is an energy that comes with evil that does not come with righteousness.”
While the world is working overtime to push their wicked agenda, God’s people are asleep.
Satan is at war with the Church.
The Bible is clear that during the Tribulation, the Antichrist will make life difficult for God’s people.
Daniel 7
- 24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
- 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
God used a phrase that caught my eye.
NOTE: 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High
The last days will be filled with troubling and distressing events.
2 Thessalonians 2
- 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
- 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
II. The Treachery of our Will
- Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Romans 7
- 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
- 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
- 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
- 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
- 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
II. The Troubling of the Wicked
Galatians 5
- 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
- 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
- 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
- 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
Conclusion: So how does one keep from getting weary in well doing?
A. Remember your Savior
Hebrews 12
- 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
- 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
1 Peter 2
- 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
B. Renew your spirit
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
- Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.