Don't Grow Weary

2 Thessalonians 3:13

But as for you brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

It can be disheartening when you are doing all you can to help people only to be misunderstood and demonized. Like Marvin Gaye said, "Makes you want to holler throw up both my hands the way they do my life.” (who, by the way, was shot by his own father because he was jealous of him). The early Christians faced the same type of challenges that we face in the 21st century. They were caught between two dominant cultures. The established Jewish culture of Judaism and the heathen culture of idol worshippers. In the midst was an emerging Christian culture trying to survive the crushing effects of both. The early Christians were trying to live out the tents of Jesus' teachings under the scrutiny of those who thought they were law breakers because they didn’t keep the traditions of men and then you have the worldly influence of pagans trying to infiltrate the church with things like temple prostitution, people who could work but refused to work, sacrificing to idols, etc. All of these things were draining on the new leaders, but Paul encourages them to not grow weary in doing good.

It can be draining trying to do cutting edge ministry in a “religious town.” Apostolic ministry is pioneering. The early apostles had to blaze a new trail in places that had never received the radical message of Jesus Christ. The early apostles were labeled as blasphemers for teaching about this Jesus who was raised from the dead. While they were trying to reach Gentiles, they were being scrutinized by the old religious guard for their methods and their theology, but Paul says do not grow wear in doing good. It sounds easier than it is because as it says in Isaiah 40:31, Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. We all get weary and when our good is misunderstood for evil, it makes you want to quit. But this scripture speaks to me this morning and I hear God saying, “Do not grow weary in doing good.” When you are at work and everyone around you is doing enough to get by and you are wondering why should I keep busting my behind. …do not grow weary in doing good. When you are single trying to hold on to your virtue and everyone around you is doing whatever and with whomever…do not grow weary in doing good. When you are trying to help people and people around you criticize your every move…do not grow weary in doing good.

How do you not grow weary when it seems you are fighting against two opposing forces?

1. Remember who you are fighting for. Only what you do for Christ will last. When you are fighting for God, God will fight for you.

2. Remember who you are helping. Matthew 9:11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners’ 12 On hearing this , Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ..For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. Even Jesus was misunderstood when he stepped out of the box of tradition to help people who were not otherwise welcomed in church so he went to where they were. If they misunderstood Jesus, they will misunderstand you. When I know who I’m helping it doesn’t matter what the people who are not in my target audience think about me.

3. Remember where all your help comes from. Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, he who watches over you will not let your foot slip.

4. Work with the end in mind. James 1:12 blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who live him.

5. Push "Pause" if you feel faint. I’m working on this P90X workout routine and the trainer reminds me periodically if I ever feel wasted to push pause and take a break. Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. When the grind of life gets to you it’s okay to push the pause button and take a break. When you get your wind back, jump back in and finish.

6. Get in his presence. Before Jesus was able to finish his mission he had to go in the garden to pray. There are some hard assignments God gives us and the only way to finish is to get in his presence and get some strength from our father.

7. Take care of your body. I Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. We need to take care of our temples with what we watch, eat, and put in our bodies. We need to exercise physically and spiritually.

8. Laugh, Love and Live. Ecclesiastes 3:4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Life is short and you should learn how to enjoy every day that God gives you. All work and no play makes you a boring and burnt out person.

9. Update your Status. I don’t understand why some people are on Facebook. They never change their status. The reason some of us don’t finish is that we never update our status. You may be somewhere that God is no longer present. Check your status.

10. Check the company you keep. If you are in the company of draining people, it causes you to fall short of finishing what God tells you to do. Bad company corrupts good morals.

Dear God, it's draining sometimes when you are trying to help people and you feel the crushing force of opposition. But what keeps me going is when I know you are pleased with my service and your people are being helped. Give me the strength to endure, protect my family, mature our church, so that one day we can hear you say, “well done my good and faithful servant, you’ve been faithful over a few things now come on up and I will make you ruler over many.”

In Jesus Name.
Amen.