And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galations 6:9
We live in the age of speed. We have "instant" foods of all kinds, smartphones that do more than a room full of computers once did, and the ability to communicate with almost anyone anywhere in the world for free. TV and movies serve up quick solutions to complex problems. TV, radio, and print ads serve up solutions even faster for a price. No exercise solutions to weight loss sell like hotcakes, "done for you" ways to make money are blasted all over the internet.
While hard work can be overrated, nothing beats persistence and perseverance. Most of the accomplishments in life do not happen overnight. Gold medals are not won in a day. It takes years of consistent discipline, sacrifice, and training.
So it is when it comes to our relationship with God and progress in our lives. We have to invest much time and effort continually if we want to be the best we can be. If we do so patiently and persistently, we will reap the fruit of our labors.
Do not aim for quick results. Aim for lasting results!
कभी लगता है आसमां में उड़ जाऊँ
कभी लगता है जमीं पर बैठ जाऊँ
कभी लगता है दुनिया के सारे शहर घूम आऊँ
तो कभी लगता है जहाँ हूँ वहीं बस जाऊँ
एक पल सब कुछ पाने की चाह
और अगले ही पल कुछ भी न पाने की चाह
जिंदगी जीने की कोशिश में, मैं तो बंजारा बन कर रह गया
अब नहीं सूझता कोई मुक़ाम और न ही कोई राह
जवानी में कई ख़्वाब थे और कई मंजिले
कुछ ख़्वाब हकीकत भी बने, लेकिन मंजिले सरकती रहीं
अब मैं ख्वाबों के ख्वाब पाल रहा हूँ
मुझे नहीं मालूम मैं किस दिशा जा रहा हूँ
कई वर्षो की कठोर मेहनत के बाद भी कोई बदलाव नहीं
ऐसे में मन का टूटना लाज़मीं है पर कोई बात नहीं
न मैं टूटने वाला हूँ, न मैं पीछे हट रहा हूँ
मैं तो बस दिवाली के दीयों में रोशनी कर रहा हूँ
And let us not be weary in well : for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galations 6:9
It is easy to get distracted by those who do not seem to care. It is easy to get lost in what we think others should or should not be doing. We may feel like we are the only ones trying to do what what is good and right in our church, home, neighborhood, or job.
At times like that, we must remember that God will not hold us accountable for what others do or do not do. If we expect to reap a harvest from our labors, we have to be persistent; sowing the seed is just the gateway to reaping. Much more work must be done to bring about a good harvest.
Do good no matter what others around you do. It may seem like it's not making a difference, but rest assured it makes a difference to those who are touched by it. In time, if you do not give up, do not faint, do not quit, you will reap from your efforts and know God's pleasure and joy!
Let us not become weary in doing good. Galatians 6:9
READ Galatians 6:2–10
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they d
LISTEN ONLINE
At twelve years old, Ibrahim arrived in Italy from West Africa, not knowing a word of Italian, struggling with a stutter and forced to face anti-immigrant putdowns. None of that stopped the hardworking young man who, in his twenties, opened a pizza shop in Trento, Italy. His little business won over doubters to be listed as one of the top fifty pizzerias in the world.
His hope was then to help feed hungry children on Italian streets. So he launched a “pizza charity” by expanding a Neapolitan tradition—where customers buy an extra coffee (caffè sospeso) for those in need—to pizza (pizza sospesa). He also urges immigrant children to look past prejudice and not give up.
Such persistence recalls Paul’s lessons to the Galatians on continually doing good to all. “Let us 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). Paul continued, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (v. 10).
Ibrahim, an immigrant who faced prejudice and language barriers, created an opportunity to do good. Food became a ‘bridge’ leading to tolerance and understanding. Inspired by such persistence, we too can look for opportunities to do good. God, then, gets the glory as He works through our steady trying.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
How does your persistence glorify God? In your life, what deserves more godly persistence and loving charity from you?
When I consider giving up, dear God, inspire me to endure in You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Galatians 6:9, Paul counters the human tendency to quit with these words: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” The Greek word translated “become weary” (enkakeō) means “to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted.”
The word for “give up” (eklyō) can mean literally “to dissolve,” but here the idea is used figuratively to mean “weaken, relax, faint, exhaust.” In the Gospels, this word is used to describe what would happen to the multitude—“collapse”—if they were sent away without nourishment: “I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way” (Matthew 15:32; see Mark 8:3). Put positively, the message for believers of any era is to press on!
