It is so much easier to do good in the early stages of your Christian walk; when you first hear the good news and you catch on fire for the things of God. You begin to desire to manifest the abundant life God promises and are more diligent in seeking Him. You are more inclined to read your Bible and pray and try doing all the things you know you should.
But when life hits and trials and tribulations come your way, when you are mocked for trying to be good and some of the things you were praying for don’t come to pass. You grow tired and lose your zest and zeal for the things of God.
Yet, that is not how it should be. You need to keep your fire for the Lord burning. You must be zealous for the Gospel and you should not grow weary in doing good.
Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good
We are commanded in God’s word to not grow weary in doing good. (Galatians 6:9) Why? You might ask. What is the point of doing good when there is nothing to show for it? Things seem to only be getting worse. I am ridiculed and people make fun of me. And it’s hard; it was easier being the way I used to be.
This may be true. But we don’t seek Christ to please men. (John 5:44) And no one said that putting off our old selves would be easy. (Ephesians 4:22)
And unfortunately, when you strive to be more Christ-like you get increased resistance from other people and from yourself. This is because satan is ruler in this realm. Our sin nature responds to him and is under his sway. (1 John 5:19) So that means when we choose to depart from that nature, we fight against him and his powers.
We are Fighting a Spiritual War
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
-Ephesians 5:12 (NKJV)
We are fighting a spiritual war. That means doing good is not just about seeing good happen back to us. It is not just about seeing things move smoothly and perfectly all the time. No. Doing good and pursuing the things of God should not be determined by how people will respond to you or by whether things are going well.
When you seek God and choose God daily; in every moment, you are saying yes to Him and no to satan. You are actively fighting against living a life that glorifies the enemy and does not God. That is why you should not grow wear in doing good, if you do so you are letting satan win.
Your Reward is Eternal Life
Even when everything seems to be going terribly, you must not grow weary in doing good. Remember that you do not seek reward for your good in this life but in the next.
That is not to say that the Lord does not want to bless you and make you prosper in this life, far from it. He wants you to have an abundant life (John 10:10, full of the riches in glory He has prepared for you. (Ephesians 1:18) As you continue in Him, His goodness will manifest in your life.
But when you do good now, when you continue to pray, to seek godliness and Christ’s righteousness every day; more than anything, you are storing up for yourself treasure in heaven; in eternity.
Paul writes in Romans 2:7 that eternal life is promised to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour and immortality. You do good because you seek God’s glory, honour and immortality; you seek heaven and Christ’s righteousness. These are treasures far more eternal than any praise or riches you might want in this life.
Stay Steadfast
So, brethren remain steadfast and immovable in the Lord. Abound in His goodness and grace and keep doing what is right. Do not grow weary in doing good because you do not labour in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58) Continue to choose God and His ways and you will see a manifestation of His goodness and greatness, in this life and the next.
