Never grow weary in doing good

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 

GaIatians 6:1-10 is one of those passages that are preached or taught from when it’s the last message a preacher or teacher will give before his flock before leaving them (retirement, resignation, another position).  I have written in my Bible two descriptions of Galatians 6:1-10.  One is “Doing good for all”; the other is “Ten Commandments for Successful Living”.

Verses 9 and 10 conclude this passage of constructive advice from the apostle Paul.  Do you become weary in doing good?  Do you feel that you do so much good for others without others doing much, if any, good for you?  Mothers especially must feel this way from time to time, but love for their children overrides having this concern for very long.  Volunteers do so much good for others without much appreciation at all.  Church leaders, especially busy pastors, are always fighting the thought of weariness in doing good for their flocks without feeling appreciation in return.

Anything that bears fruit takes a long time and a lot of attention.  There must be some of you who love to garden.  You know that to reap a crop takes time plus much effort to protect that garden against things that will want to destroy it (animals, weather).  Such analogy applies to your efforts to fight against weariness in doing good. 

When is “the proper time” when those who never stop doing good will reap a harvest?  It is whenever God says is the appointed time, perhaps when you reach heaven.  In heaven God Himself will say to you, “well done, good and faithful servant”.  The word “faithful” certainly has the connotation of persevering, never giving up in doing good.  By the way, the word used for “good” means to do what is beautiful, helpful and beneficial.

You are to keep doing good and fight the tendency to get discouraged.  You are to keep doing good especially to those who are believers “as you have opportunity”.  There are all kinds of opportunities that avail themselves in the local church and it is up to you to take advantage of those opportunities to do good for others.  That might include helping in the nursery one Sunday, helping with a youth class or project, going on a missions trip, showing up when the church has a weekend work project, etc.    

Paul writes that “we” (him and all of us) will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  What is the harvest that you will reap if you keep doing good without giving up?  Well, as Paul emphasized in verses 6 and 7 of this chapter, you reap (harvest) what you sow.  The harvest is directly proportional to what you have sown and this applies both positively (good works reap good harvests) and negatively (evil works reap evil results).  The Bible speaks about rewards in heaven based on your works (I Cor 3:11:15).        

So, the bottom line is to keep doing good works and never, ever give up.  Discouragement might come once in a while, but, when it does, get some quality rest or take a vacation and then you’ll be refreshed to continue doing good. 

“Greatness is determined by what it takes to discourage you”---Unknown