ARE YOU GROWING WEARY?

From: Ron Hawks

“Not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up…Galatians 6:9.”

Most people who come to Christ come when they are facing difficult times. They come when they are in great need. They are hoping for change in circumstances and/or within. Why don’t people come to God when they are in a “good space?” It’s probably because when things are good, we tend to be content with our self-reliance. We call out to God when relying on ourselves isn’t working anymore.

Life can still be tough – even when we rely on God. The apostle Paul encourages those who are living in Christ to “Not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) Why would people who have learned to rely on Christ become weary in doing the right things? It’s because we all are prone to lose focus.

It could be that we really want to see things change as a fruit of our good work. We keep our eyes on the change we hope for, and when we don’t see it we become weary and depleted. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” (Proverbs 13:6) It can happen to any of us. When we don’t see the change (fruit) we want from our labors, we can wear out.

However, we would do better to focus on doing the right things … for the Lord. It is better to serve the Lord in worship, rather than as a means of change. Yet, in honest, doing rightly rarely provides enough incentive to sustain us over the long haul.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, He is our prize and the reward for our labors. Let’s work for Him (His delight), in Him (His power), and with Him (in Relationship with Him). When we live with Jesus – the things, the changes and even the results of our labor fade in prominence. He becomes the “why,” He becomes the “how” and He becomes the “treasure.” Jesus lived focusing on His relationship with His Father, and He has opened the same kind of relationship for us. “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) The joy was in being with His Father – the ultimate joy was in sitting down with His Father.

You may already be feeling some weariness this fall – don’t worry, that’s natural. However, this could great time to sharpen your focus. You will receive a bountiful harvest of deeper relationship with the Lord and all the fruit He produces if you will content yourself in His presence and keep pressing ahead. He is the reward – and He will reward you – it’s a promise!

Pressing on in Him with you,

Pastor Tom