"Be Not Weary In Well-Doing"
The apostle Paul, writing in Galatians 6:9 said, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Here is an exhortation for the faithful child of God to continue walking worthy of the vocation wherewith he has been called (Ephesians 4:1). The apostle from the city of Tarsus teaches that those who have obeyed the plan of salvation that Christ has authored (Hebrews 5:8-9), are to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
As we view the words of inspiration that Paul spoke, we find that he was speaking to those Christians in the region of Galatia who were being tempted to return unto the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). Thus the able defender of the Gospel (Philippians 1:17) exhorted them to continue in the Christian battle (Ephesians 6) that they would be able to receive the crown of redemption (Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 4:8) at life's end.
Today, the sound child of God is confronted with many trials and temptations that try his faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). Liberalism, anti-ism, and other "isms" are infiltrating the camp of our Lord. The faithful soldier of the cross grows weary from time to time as he wields the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) against the rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12). The tired fighter of the faith must remember the words of inspiration that Paul spoke to encourage him not to faint in the fight against the devil.
Looking back to the Old Testament, we find that Elijah became weary as a servant of God and thus hid himself in a cave (1 Kings 19:9). The Lord told his servant that there were seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed the knee unto Baal (1 Kings 19:18; Romans 11:4). Elijah was commanded to "Go, return to thy way to the wilderness of Damascus" (1 Kings 19:15). Just as the word of God reminded him that his fight was yet unfinished, the child of Jehovah today must also realize that he must press on in the battle against sin and for the truth.
The saint of God who "wars the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18), stands alongside of those faithful servants in the Bible who fought, yea, gave their lives in the services of God. Hebrews, chapter eleven, unfolds the great men and women who had the faith that is pleasing to the eyes of the Creator. The service they rendered to Jehovah encourages the child of God today not to faint nor grow weary in the work of the Lord. May the soldier of the cross be reminded that he must be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" knowing that his "labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
From Our Archives, 1995
Howell Bigham