I came to a living relationship with Jesus when I was very young , but during my teen years I vacillated in a backslidden condition for five years, therefore I have been knowingly saved for 52 of my 60 years. I did not learn that I could be delivered from my carnality (sinful nature), which accosted me throughout my early years of salvation, until I heard about Entire Sanctification in the first weeks of my Bible College days
I've watched believers become weary in well doing. What are the Causes?
Failure
Struggle
Suffering
Losses
Daily Grind
but also
Success,
Victory
Constancy,
which draws a constant dripping of destructive detractors & the fusillade of "friendly" faultfinders.
PASSAGES...
Galatians 6:8-9
8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I have watched believers, the same ones who have stood-up to the government when they were threatened with jail or loss of children, the same ones who have been willing to leave and lose all material wealth in answer to God's call and leading; I have watched them as they got tired of being called a cultist or a man-follower or a radical, by people who were not serious Christ followers. As a result, some of them fell away, some of them just eased off, some looked for a less radical station in life.
It is interesting that many of those who are actually ensnared by the cults (JW, LDS, SDA), or those who are men followers (Copeland, Osteen, Moon, Jones, Koresh), do/did not get tired or intimidated by the verbal attacks of friends and family members, at least not to the point that they turned from their error. Christ followers are so afraid of being thought of as men followers or followers of strange ideas that they grow weary of such distasteful but harmless irritating attacks, and they back off, or even turn away from their commitment altogether.
People who have been part of great spiritual adventures are sometimes maneuvered into uselessness because they just get weary in well doing. Unhappily, the real losers are the people who never get reached because someone got tired of a little aggravation or inconvenience. Often it is not the mountains that deter the traveler as much as the gravel in the sandal. The Scripture says, The little foxes spoil the vine.
Remember, the passage says, “...he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Since we receive eternal life as a gift, this verse is not saying that we get our eternal life because we sow to the Spirit. The reaping of lost souls is in view here. If we sow our lives to the Spirit, we will see the lost come to Christ. However, if the unsaved do not hear the gospel they will not be saved.
Romans 10:13-15
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Therefore, the reaping of life everlasting is the winning of those who hear the gospel we preach, and then believe, to the saving of their souls.
Psalms 126:5-6
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.
8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Hebrews 10:38-39
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Do not become weary in doing good, because someone needs you to be faithful in your service to God.
Another Factor...
Another thing that causes believers to become weary in well doing is the constant negative response people give to the gospel. In fact, this is the context of our verse.
The point is analogous to a parent making major sacrifices for a self centered child, who views the parent with scorn and disdain. Over a long period of time, regardless of how much the parent loves child, the parent may think that such a one sided commitment is wasted effort.
This may also be seen when a parent tries to inpart moral, Christian values to a headstrong and pleasure seeking offspring who is constantly rebelling against family standards. Persistent pursuit of drugs, lawlessness and promiscuity might end parental attempts to reach the child.
Again, the weariness can be seen in the unrequited love of a man or woman whose spouse is totally unresponsive to all overtures of affection or kindness. The lover may eventually stop reaching out, for fear of being rejected.
Our passage, in verse 10, directs believers to not become weary as we do good to all men, especially to fellow believers.
Galatians 6:10
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Paul told believers at Colossae that whatever service they rendered should be done in the name of the Lord.
Colossians 3:16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
It hurts when anyone rejects or disrespects us, and the closer the relationship, the greater the pain. It is more difficult to remain strong in the battle when there seems to be no progress and victory is not within sight. Still, Be Not Weary. Remember, we are serving God while we are serving unresponsive people. We should do our work, as to the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Sometimes God sends us to hard cases, who will eventually receive God's message, and sometimes He sends us to hopeless cases, who will never turn from sin. Still, God has a reason for sending us to those who will never turn (especially, "as we see the day approaching [He. 10:25]), just as He had a reason for sending Christ to those who chose not to accept Him.
Matthew 23:37
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kills the prophets, and stones them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Sometimes the reward is for service rendered rather than results attained. God will reward us for our faithful and obedient service.
Hebrews 6:10
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
So, regardless of the audience or the response, Be Not Weary In Well Doing, For In Due Season, We Shall Reap, If We Faint Not.
PASSAGES...
Galatians 6:8-9
8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I have watched believers, the same ones who have stood-up to the government when they were threatened with jail or loss of children, the same ones who have been willing to leave and lose all material wealth in answer to God's call and leading; I have watched them as they got tired of being called a cultist or a man-follower or a radical, by people who were not serious Christ followers. As a result, some of them fell away, some of them just eased off, some looked for a less radical station in life.
It is interesting that many of those who are actually ensnared by the cults (JW, LDS, SDA), or those who are men followers (Copeland, Osteen, Moon, Jones, Koresh), do/did not get tired or intimidated by the verbal attacks of friends and family members, at least not to the point that they turned from their error. Christ followers are so afraid of being thought of as men followers or followers of strange ideas that they grow weary of such distasteful but harmless irritating attacks, and they back off, or even turn away from their commitment altogether.
People who have been part of great spiritual adventures are sometimes maneuvered into uselessness because they just get weary in well doing. Unhappily, the real losers are the people who never get reached because someone got tired of a little aggravation or inconvenience. Often it is not the mountains that deter the traveler as much as the gravel in the sandal. The Scripture says, The little foxes spoil the vine.
Remember, the passage says, “...he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Since we receive eternal life as a gift, this verse is not saying that we get our eternal life because we sow to the Spirit. The reaping of lost souls is in view here. If we sow our lives to the Spirit, we will see the lost come to Christ. However, if the unsaved do not hear the gospel they will not be saved.
Romans 10:13-15
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Therefore, the reaping of life everlasting is the winning of those who hear the gospel we preach, and then believe, to the saving of their souls.
Psalms 126:5-6
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.
8 Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Hebrews 10:38-39
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Do not become weary in doing good, because someone needs you to be faithful in your service to God.
Another Factor...
Another thing that causes believers to become weary in well doing is the constant negative response people give to the gospel. In fact, this is the context of our verse.
The point is analogous to a parent making major sacrifices for a self centered child, who views the parent with scorn and disdain. Over a long period of time, regardless of how much the parent loves child, the parent may think that such a one sided commitment is wasted effort.
This may also be seen when a parent tries to inpart moral, Christian values to a headstrong and pleasure seeking offspring who is constantly rebelling against family standards. Persistent pursuit of drugs, lawlessness and promiscuity might end parental attempts to reach the child.
Again, the weariness can be seen in the unrequited love of a man or woman whose spouse is totally unresponsive to all overtures of affection or kindness. The lover may eventually stop reaching out, for fear of being rejected.
Our passage, in verse 10, directs believers to not become weary as we do good to all men, especially to fellow believers.
Galatians 6:10
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Paul told believers at Colossae that whatever service they rendered should be done in the name of the Lord.
Colossians 3:16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
It hurts when anyone rejects or disrespects us, and the closer the relationship, the greater the pain. It is more difficult to remain strong in the battle when there seems to be no progress and victory is not within sight. Still, Be Not Weary. Remember, we are serving God while we are serving unresponsive people. We should do our work, as to the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-24
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Sometimes God sends us to hard cases, who will eventually receive God's message, and sometimes He sends us to hopeless cases, who will never turn from sin. Still, God has a reason for sending us to those who will never turn (especially, "as we see the day approaching [He. 10:25]), just as He had a reason for sending Christ to those who chose not to accept Him.
Matthew 23:37
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kills the prophets, and stones them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Sometimes the reward is for service rendered rather than results attained. God will reward us for our faithful and obedient service.
Hebrews 6:10
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
So, regardless of the audience or the response, Be Not Weary In Well Doing, For In Due Season, We Shall Reap, If We Faint Not.
