Don’t Grow Weary

Introduction

I want to begin by asking a question this morning, a loaded question. But how is your memory?

You know, memory is a strange thing, isn’t it? Even when it’s working properly, it’s a strange thing. The things that the mind chooses to remember. While at the same time, the thing the mind chooses to forget. Up until 1985, for about two or three years, when I was in high school, I worked at a grocery store. I can still remember. The UPC produce lookup codes. But I can’t remember where I parked my car.

One is when something happened. When we moved to a certain city, or when we made that trip to Colorado, or what year the kids were born. I’m just terrible at those kind of things of remembering when something happened.

How’s that for putting a positive spin on things? It’s been quite a year. A year, I’m sure, for most, if not all of us, is a year we’ll never forget. I may be missing some of the lowlights, but we have an unprecedented pandemic that initiated an unprecedented shutdown of our country and economy. We have the threat of murder hornets, whatever that is. And right now we have two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. What’s next? What else can we endure in 2020? And we’re all tired. We’re tired of what life has thrown at us. In addition to these weights that we all are bearing, some have borne much greater personal weights and loss. Some have lost jobs and income. Some have lost family members.

But I’m fear, I fear that through all of this, that some of us have lost some spiritual strength. In a word, in a biblical word, we’re weary. We talked last week at the passage in Matthew chapter 11, verses 28 through 30, where Jesus said, Ye who are weary and heavy laden, come unto me and I’ll give you rest. And we emphasized last week in that text about the yoke and the burden that we accept when we come to Him, and how that yoke is easy and that burden is light. And we talked about in what sense could that be true. But this morning I’d like for us to think about just that concept of being weary, and how coming to Jesus can give us rest. In a lesson that I hope is some source of encouragement for you, when we just give you this encouraging mantra, don’t grow weary.

Will you turn with me in your Bibles in the New Testament to the book of Galatians, chapter 6, where we read that phrase. And we want to talk about this morning how that is possible. How is it possible to not grow weary? What can we do? First, let’s talk about weariness. We’ve already talked about the weariness of this age of this year, but let’s talk also about the spiritual weariness of just being a Christian and the strain that that can put on us emotionally, even physically and spiritually. And this weariness for so many becomes an obstacle. Particularly when we become a Christian. Jesus said, if you’re weary, come unto me and I’ll give you rest. Well, we come to Jesus, we obey the gospel, and guess what?

Problems are still there. In fact, in some cases, those problems, those difficulties, those temptations, those persecutions may actually increase rather than getting better. And we become disillusioned with Christianity. I became a Christian, but my problems didn’t go away. I still have problems with debt and finances, I still have problems at work, I still have problems at home and in my family. I thought becoming a Christian would make all of those problems go away. And we become disillusioned.

Number one is we just say, if that’s what Christianity is, and we just walk away.

But we just go through the motions without any true zeal and fervor to our Christianity. And even if we’re not disillusioned by the troubles and the weariness of life, they can still be a burden and a threat to our faithfulness. And so the Apostle Paul says in Galatians chapter 6, begin with me in verse 6. Galatians 6, verse 6, he says, let him who is taught the word share in all things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Then verse 9, let us not grow weary while doing good.

For in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Do not grow weary.

1. Do Not Grow Weary With Patience

We could probably make a long list. But for your benefit, I’ve made a short list of two biblical principles that you’re very familiar with, that I believe are the biblical keys to overcoming weariness. The first is patience. Do not grow weary with patience. Now let’s think about patience for just a little bit. In fact, I want us to pause in both of these words that we’re going to look at this morning. And just, they’re very familiar words, but I want us to pause and give new thought to them and maybe deeper thought to them than you have in some time. The first one is patience. The Bible has a lot to say about patience. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of patience in the Christian life.

In fact, it is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Patience. What does patience mean? Patience, as we most often use it, is the ability to not pick up your shopping cart and throw it across the store while you’re patiently waiting in line. Now six feet apart from everybody. That’s probably good for me that I’m have to be six feet apart from everybody else in the store because I struggle with that arena of patience. Of waiting my turn. When everybody in the store is not doing it the way I want it to be done. With the efficiency and the speed that I want it to be done. And nobody in that store understands the tight schedule that I’m on.

We usually think of patience in that way, don’t we?

And that’s a part of patience. That’s a part of even biblical patience. But biblical patience has a much broader definition than not just getting upset when things take a while. Biblical patience includes not giving up when something takes a long while. Of learning to wait. Do you struggle with that? I know I do. I blame two things. Myself. And the world that I now live in. Let’s start with the world. We live in a world full of instant gratification. I can get on my phone and order something from Publix, Walmart, Target, or even Amazon, and get it today. Delivered to my house. And thanks to COVID, they’ll just leave it at the door and knock and run, and I don’t even have to see them. We’re spoiled by that.

I said I blame the world in which we live in. I’m going to narrow it down to one device. I blame one device for my lack of patience. And that’s the microwave. Think about the contrast between the first century and now. Have you ever thought about the story of the prodigal son? When the father, overjoyed at the return of his son, says, we’re going to have a feast. And what does he famously say to introduce the fact that we’re going to have a feast? He says, let’s kill the fatted calf. Now you tell me what time is supper when he says the cow is still alive. It’s going to be a while, isn’t it? Before we kill, butcher, process, build a fire, and cook that beef.

There better be snacks before. But now I can go home with little or no preparation and bring something out of the freezer that’s frozen rock solid, put it in the microwave, push those buttons, and before I know it, I have lunch. It may not be the greatest quality, but it’s food. We get spoiled by those things, don’t we? I think I’ve asked you this question before, but have you ever got impatient with the microwave because it’s taking too long to pop your popcorn? Somewhere your grandmother who cooked on a stove, a wood stove, is turning over in her grave. We live in a world of instant gratification. But I blame myself. I’m that way without the microwave. Deedra would tell you this part of my personality if we go to the store and I buy a new toy, whether that be some kind of drill or saw or some kind of electronic device from Best Buy.

She doesn’t even have to ask. She knows she’s driving home. Because I’m sitting in the passenger seat and opening up.

A little upset that I can’t plug it into the cigarette lighter and try it out. I’m impatient. Patience says we’re in this for the long haul. Not for what I can get out of my Christianity today. Now don’t misunderstand me. There are clear and present blessings. But patience says that I wait. How long must I wait? Turn over to the book of James. Look in James chapter 5. If I ask you to name a biblical character who illustrated or demonstrated patience, you’d probably say Job. James chapter 5. Look at verses 10 and 11, where he says, My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the end intended by the Lord, that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

The prophets and Job are put before us as examples of patience. We’ve recently studied two prophets, haven’t we? Ezekiel and Daniel. Think about their lives, just those two men, as examples of patience. Far as we know from the biblical record, both of these men were godly men. They were not idol worshipers. They were not responsible for the captivity of God’s people. But they had to endure that captivity along with the idolatrous, sinful people. The book of Daniel spans seventy years of captivity, of suffering.

And we don’t even know if Daniel got to experience as an old man, even the return from that captivity. Back into that land of rest. No wonder James says, think about the prophets. When you want to look to an example of patience. And patience is something that is required, has always been required. Turn back a few pages of the book of Hebrews, chapter 10. That’s always been required of God’s people. Excuse me, Hebrews chapter 6. Just a few pages. Hebrews chapter 6, verses 11 and 12. If you’ll join us tonight on our Zoom class study, we’ll look at these verses again. But Hebrews 6, verses 11 and 12. He says, and we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope to the end that you do not become sluggish and imitate but imitate those who through faith and through patience inherit the promises.

Two things about that passage. Number one is the promises are seen as something that are yet future to us, and so we need patience to wait. We think of Job, we think of the prophets, but the scriptures give us a more close-to-home illustration of someone or a profession that requires patience. There in our text in Galatians chapter 6, in this passage, where he says, Do not grow weary in doing good. He began that premise with the premise of sowing and reaping. Farming was the illustration. Sowing and reaping. That’s a real life parable for patience, isn’t it? Planting the seed and covering it over with soil. And you wait. Look with me back to the book of James. This time in James chapter 5 again.

James 5, let’s look at verses 7 and 8. Later in James 5 that we’ve just read, he talks about the prophets and Job being examples of patience. But prior to that, he gives another illustration of patience. James 5, verse 7, therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord is at hand. The farmer is that real life parable of patience. He plants and he waits. Now, by the fact that he waits doesn’t mean there isn’t work that he does in the interim. There is. But what he does today in sowing, he will not be blessed until the time of reaping.

And until that time, he gets nothing in return but more work. He waits.

We’re in the season of sowing. And when do we get our return? In fact, when you’re in the season of sowing prior to the season of harvest, you get nothing in return but more work. And so what do you do? You can imagine the ridiculous example, the ridiculous illustration of a farmer planting his seeds, of a novice farmer planting his seeds and waking up the next day and being frustrated and tilling it all under and planting new seeds and repeating that process over and over again as he becomes increasingly frustrated that he’s getting nothing out of what he’s doing. And we would mock and ridicule a farmer who did that. But how many times as Christians do I do that? I pray to God.

2. Faith: Trusting God

And I’m mad the next day. I become a Christian. And I’m disillusioned because nothing’s gotten better. James would say, be patient, brethren. See how the farmer waits. And recognizing we’re in the season of sowing. Patience and faith are required for us not to grow weary and to give up in this long journey of faith. Let’s think about faith like we thought about patience. What is faith? As the Bible uses it. There’s at least three components. You may think of many more, but at least three components when the Bible talks about faith. One, there is the belief in someone. The ascent to certain facts. Jesus said in John 8, verse 24, except you believe that I am He, you’ll die in your sins. Most basic element of faith is we have to believe in God.

I believe there is a God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. There’s another component to faith. Faith, James would have us to know in James chapter 2, really the end of James chapter 1, and all of James chapter 2, James would have us to know that this faith in God is now faith in the system that God has put in place that requires action on my part. If not, just believing in God, he says he’s going to get you nowhere and do nothing. Dead is the word that he uses. And so faith involves believing in God enough that you’ll do what he says. But there’s a third component to faith that maybe we don’t emphasize as much as we do those other two.

And that’s trust. Trusting God. Trusting Him with our entire life, our soul, our being. Trusting that what He said will come to pass. Too many times as a Christian we may say, Lord, I’m ready to give up on you. I’ve tried it your way, and nothing has gotten better. Nothing has changed for me yet, and so I give up. Turn with me to the book of Exodus, chapter 5. We think of Moses as a man of faith, don’t we? But he had to learn to get there. Look in Exodus chapter 5. God had called Moses to deliver his people. And Moses goes and makes the demand of Pharaoh. Now, this is before the ten plagues. This is before the parting of the Red Sea. He goes to Pharaoh and says, Let my people go.

And what did Pharaoh say? No. In fact, let’s make it a little harder for you. So you won’t have as much time and inclination to come and bother me. And look at then at Exodus chapter 5. God goes back to Moses goes back to God. In Exodus chapter 5, look with me at verses 22 and 23. The last two verses of Exodus 5, Moses returned to the Lord and said, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you’ve sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he’s done evil to this people. Neither have you delivered your people at all. God, you said you were sending me to deliver these people. It’s been two days. I may be exaggerating a little bit there on Moses’ behalf.

It’s been two days and nothing’s gotten better. In fact, it’s only gotten worse. You ever feel that way as a Christian? God, I obeyed the gospel. I gave you my life. And nothing’s better. In fact, because of the restrictions and the sacrifices and the persecutions, life’s gotten a little harder for me, God. We read that story of Moses, that comment of Moses, for the benefit of hindsight, and we just say, Moses. Just wait. Wait till the water turns to blood. The frogs and the lice and the flies and the cattle start dying. And the boils and the hails and the darkness and then the death of the firstborn. Moses, just wait till you see the Red Sea. Moses, just wait till your own Mount Sinai. Moses, just wait till you strike the rock or speak to the rock.

Moses just wait till bread literally starts raining out of heaven. Moses. Be patient. And trust in God. Wouldn’t that be our advice to Moses? I wonder what’s Moses’ advice to us today. Wouldn’t it be much the same? When he’s saying, Ken, before you grumble to God, just wait. Trust God that He’ll provide. Trusting in God demands that we trust in God’s grace. To Paul, he says, My grace is sufficient for you. Trusting in God demands that we trust in His faithfulness. One last passage. Go with me to the book of the Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 10. And in verse 23 to this epistle that we’re studying in our Bible classes right now, an epistle encouraging these people to not grow weary in their faithfulness to God. He says this, Hebrews 10, verse 23, let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.

Conclusion

For he who promised is faithful. You see, the key to not growing weary is our patience of recognizing that we’re waiting not for this world to become heaven, but we’re waiting for heaven itself. And it requires our faith in Him who promised. And so I want to encourage you this week to think about two words patience and faith. And don’t grow weary in doing good. For in due season, you will reap what you have sown. Would you become a Christian this morning and begin this journey? We will not promise what Jesus could not promise, and that is, we will not promise heaven on earth. In fact, Jesus said things are going to get tougher for you. And so before you put your hand to the plow, you consider and count the cause.

Would you become a Christian this morning, not for what you will gain today? Oh, there’ll be blessings today. There’ll be rejoicing today. But you become a Christian today because you’re planting a seed for eternity. And we’ll be with you and stand beside you and encourage you not to grow weary in doing good. Become a Christian today or to double your resolve to live the Christian life in patience and in faith. Can we help you this morning? And then why not come as together we stand and as we sing?