Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 26-28
     New Testament Reading: Galatians 6

Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith (Galatians 6:9-10).

Don’t Quit by Tom Wallace

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seem all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!

In writing to the church at Thessalonica the Apostle Paul said, we recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thes 1:3).  He commended the believers there not for their work, labor, and endurance, but for their proper motivation, faith, love, and hope. How easy it is for us to work for the Lord but permit the spiritual motivation to die.

When that happens, the work we do becomes a burden, and we grow weary and tired of doing it. But the promise Paul gives will help us keep going; we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up (v9). The seed that is planted does not bear fruit immediately. There are different seasons for a crop, the seeds are sown and take root, then there is a time for the plant to grow and produce fruit, and finally, at the proper time, the fruit is ripe and ready for harvest.

Just as there are seasons of nature, there are seasons to the soul. We must give the seed we sow by our good works time to take root and bear fruit. Each day we are to sow the seed, water, and cultivate it so that one day we will reap a harvest. But we must remember the Lord of the harvest oversees the timing, not the laborers.

We also need to not get tired of doing good so that we will be ready as we have opportunity. When opportunity presents itself, we are to work for the good of all. This is how we let our light shine before men and glorify our Father in heaven. It is not only by words that we witness to the lost but also by our works. In fact, our works often pave the way for our verbal witness.

As we work for the good of all we are to give priority to the household of faith (v10).A person is to always care for their own family before he cares for the neighborhood (1 Tim 5:8). Jesus said everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another(John 13:35). When we serve each other out of love, the world will see and know we are different. In addition, we share with other Christians so that all of us might share with the needy world. The believer in the household of faith is a receiver that, out of the overflow, might become a transmitter. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you (1 Thes 3:12).