Don't Grow Weary!

Weary Workers

Galatians 6:1-2, 9-10

October 1, 2023

Do you have some people in your lives whom you admire? Take a moment and think about those people. Consider why you admire them. The standard they’ve set for you and how you can attain that.

There are some people you know can call at 2 AM and they’d pop out of bed, no questions asked and be there for you. You could ask for a ride, a meal, work to be done around the house, or seek advice about life. And you have complete trust in them. They don’t complain about helping in whatever they do. In fact, they seem to have a smile while they’re helping. They never seem to grow weary in doing good.

One of the things I notice in our world is that we’re always busy. We seem to make work for ourselves. Even when we can have time to rest, we find something else to do. Instead of reading scripture, or praying, or quieting ourselves to hear God, we find something to do . . . . . and then we find ourselves worn down.

Today is the last Sunday of looking at what it means to serve God and yet to be refreshed and to find rest. In the last chapter of Galatians, the apostle Paul wrote -

1 If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,

and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:1-2, 9-10

As Paul works his way towards the end of this letter, he reminds the leaders in the church, those who are spiritually mature, that if someone in the church is caught in some type of transgression, if they’re involved in a sin issue, then we should do our best to restore them, doing it in a spirit of gentleness.

In other words, don’t be a like a linebacker tackling the QB. Take him down gently. You see, when most of us are threatened, our desire for survival kicks in. We say and do things that may not be us, but we do them because we’re feeling threatened. I’m not saying that’s right, but it’s our natural instincts.

So, Paul says, come to that person in a spirit of gentleness. What I hear from Paul, is that we are to love that other person, extend grace and mercy to them. Incidently, don’t dabble in what they’re doing. Don’t get swept away by their sin as well.

We are to seek to restore that person, but we do it with a spirit of gentleness because we’re filled with the Holy Spirit and we use the spirit of gentleness to restore the person.

It often seems like we live in a war zone. We’re surrounded by exploding lives and personalities and relationships. We hear the cries of those who are suffering, we see those who have made wrong choices and are crying out in desperation.

And we have the opportunity to walk alongside them . . . not to berate them, but to help them, to restore them to wholeness.

God is saying, When you see people who are caught in sin ---- like the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, Zacchaeus, and like so many others ...

God tells us . . . in fact, I believe He commands us . . . “When you see people in those desperate situations, in their deepest nightmares and crises . . . dear Church . . . be gentle! Be careful! Their lives are so fragile. They could be easily broken. So, handle with care!”

Treat them as you wish someone would treat you. Pick them up and hold them gently. Show them the way back. Help them see they’re loved. Help them come to Christ. Again, Jesus said, I am gentle and I will give them true rest. Remember, they are mine. I created them.

I’m going to skip verse 2 for a moment, because I believe that’s the glue which is to tie all of this together.

Verses 9-10 bookend Paul’s thoughts. Don’t grow weary in doing good. It can be tiring to do good. I mean, let’s be honest, it can get overwhelming trying to do what’s right and good for others. Sometimes you may wonder, what’s in it for me? Who’s going to help me on that day when I need help? Or maybe you needed help and nobody was there for you. Or maybe you’ve been taken advantage of at some point.