Weariness in a Weary World

From the diary of the famous 18th century preacher, John Wesley. . . Sunday morning, May 5 “Preached in St. Anne's. Was asked not to come back anymore.” Sunday evening, May 5 Preached in St. John's. Deacons said "Get out and stay out.” Sunday morning, May 12 Preached in St. Jude's. Can't go back there, either. Sunday evening, May 19 Preached in St. Somebody Else's. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return. Sunday evening, May 19 Preached on street. Kicked off street. Sunday morning, May 26 Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during service. Sunday morning, June 2 Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway. Sunday evening, June 2 Preached in the afternoon in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.

On the road to success, it is a road that is commonly riddled with bumps, obstacles, and frustrating detours. And yet, it is a road that must be traveled if one wants to reach the destination of success! And if a person refuses to the travel that bumpy road, sure - they might keep themselves from some temporary discomforts, But they will also keep themselves from reaching the heights of great success! And while this is true for all people, it’s absolutely true - even more - for God’s people.

From Adam, to Abel, to Abraham, to Moses, From Joseph, to Jesus, The Bible is full of examples of people who labored tirelessly, many of whom didn’t see the fruit of their labor for years and sometimes even decades! And yet, they labored on anyways, Why? Because, they were, as Hebrew’s Hall of faith tells us:

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:10 ESV

But, If they hadn’t. If their eyes had been fixed on the labor and not the harvest, they wouldn’t have! Instead, they would have give up, believing that the labor was not worth the work.

Christian, do you ever feel like the toil is not worth the task? Do you ever struggle to not become weary of the work? If so, I ask you to hear and think with me upon the words of the Apostle Paul, who writes in Galatians chapter 6:

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

Galatians 6:9 ESV

The truth is, as Christians, we can often become weary of the work. Which is why Paul urges us not to. But in order to do that, there are 3 things we MUST do, And here they are:

To avoid growing weary in our work, we must:

1. Labor
2. Love
3. Long

Now, this first point here is pretty straight forward. But we still need to talk about it. Because the truth is, if a Christian never feel exhausted from the labor, Then the most obvious explanation is that they are not is not involved in the labor. Right?...

Because the truth is, dealing with sin in people’s lives IS MESSY BUSINESS! And why wouldn’t it be? Because it’s hard enough to deal with sin my own life, which is the only life I have any sort of actual control over. Let alone dealing with the sin in other people’s life, which I have no control over.

And in response to this idea of dealing with other people’s sin, Some people will say that “a person’s sin is no one’s business other than their own.” And then they’ll usually quote the one Bible verse they know: “Judge not lest thee be judged.” And yet, the Bible is crystal clear on this. Christians are supposed to be concerned about each other’s sin. But if you’re going to do that, you are going to have to JUDGE whether or not they are actually in sin or not. Which is why the statement: “Judge not lest thee be judged” is so commonly taken out of context. The point isn’t to not judge at all - ever… It’s to not JUDGE WRONGLY. Not partially.... Not off hearsay, or mere suspicion… Because that’s what false judgment is. And so we have to fight against that, by fighting for a chartable conclusion whenever possible, And when clear-cut sin prevents that, we must address it.

And so no, as Christians, who make up the body of Christ, it absolutely is our job to help manage each other’s sin. Which is why verses 1 says:

Brothers, 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.

And in verse 2:

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

Galatians 6:1 ESV

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

In verse 1, that word for caught has to do with the idea of being trapped, or netted, or overtaken by surprise. And make no mistake, that is going to happen sometimes. Christians will be going along just fine, and then some temptation captures them, and in their weakness they give in and become entrapped to their own sin. Maybe they can’t see it - even though everyone else does. or maybe they can, but they don’t know how to fight it or get victory over it. Either way, Paul’s instructions are that those who are “spiritual” should restore them.

Now, by “those who are spiritual” - that doesn’t just mean pastors or deacons - though it certainly ought to include them. It means those who are walking in the spirit, producing the fruit of the spirit, Which Paul just explained in the last chapter. And if you look at the fruit of the spirit as Paul lists in that chapter, One of them is gentleness. And in verse 1, that’s the exact quality that spiritual people are to have when they look to restore someone who is netted by sin. And in verse 2, when it says we are to bear one another’s burdens, what attitude, or law are we to have as we do so? The law of Christ. Which is, the law of love.

To avoid growing weary in our work, we must:

1. Labor

Now, I don’t have time to unpack everything that’s been going on in the first 5 chapters of the book of Galatians, But one of the big issues that Paul was dealing with had to do with a group of people called “The Judaizers” Which was a people who were trying to get Christians to embrace faith + works for salvation. Which Paul calls another gospel entirely! And so with this situation in mind, in verse 1, a lot of commentators believe Paul is being a bit cheeky with this expression: “you who are spiritual.” As if he’s saying: “Alright Mr. super spiritual! Since you’re so spiritual, prove it by restoring erring brethren with an spirit of gentleness and love!” Do that, and then talk to me about how “spiritual” you are.

Now, maybe that’s what Paul is doing here. Maybe not. But either way, it doesn’t make a world of difference, because the point is, if we are actually spiritual, this is what being spiritual looks like. It’s not looking down upon another Christian who is entrapped with sin with an attitude of superiority and pride It’s not speaking them in a harsh way, saying: “What is your problem! Why can’t you just get it together?!” No, it’s doing so with immense humility, recognizing that, had circumstances been different, that could very easily had been you in that net. And think about it. If you had the same upbringing they had, With the same genetics, education - all of that - would you really have been smart enough to avoid Satan’s trap?

And if your answer is “yes, I would have avoided the trap” then not only are you not very spiritual, But, you are foolishly letting rear guard down, which makes you open to Satan’s other attacks. That’s why Paul says at the end of verse 2:

Galatians 6:1 (ESV) Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

And then in verse 3,

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:3 ESV

The word Paul uses here for “deceives” could also be translated as “hoodwinked.” You’ve been tricked, or fooled, is what he’s saying. Which is ironically the same sort of thing that happened to the sinning Christian in verse 1 that you were trying to help. Your efforts to try and help them have resulted in both of you being ensnared, or netted. Though in different ways.

And so no, for those of us who are spiritual, We must seek to restore Christians who are caught in sin with an attitude of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And as we do that, we fulfill verse 2’s the Law of Christ. Which is also called the law of love.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35 ESV

And

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

1 John 3:23 ESV

When it comes to loving others, there’s 2 ditches we have avoid. The first ditch is the love without truth ditch. And despite what our culture things: that’s not love at all.

For example: If a doctor’s close friend comes to see him because he’s been having strange headaches lately, and they run some scans to figure out what’s going on, And those scans come back showing a large tumor growing in his head, What is the loving thing to do? it’s to tell him! But if the doctor thinks: “Oh I don’t want to tell him the truth…because that will cause him so much pain!!” “It will give him to worry and anguish having to hear the dreaded news that the has a serious brain tumor....” “And... what if he gets upset with me for being the bearer of bad news?!” What if he kills the messenger? Regardless of his justifications - the truth is, If the doctor withholds the news from his friend, he’s being extremely unloving! But if he tells him the bad news - though it causes him some level of pain and hardship - only then can he be truly loving.

This is why Proverbs says:

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Proverbs 27:6 NIV

So that’s the first ditch, what about the second?

Well the second ditch speaks the truth, but it’s in such a blunt, haughty, even downright arrogant manner that the person can’t really hear it. It speaks in a self-righteous, haughty, and condescending tone that humiliate the person for being so stupid with their sin. Yes, you’re speaking the truth - but it’s not a way that anyone can really hear it. Not really - which is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

And so no, we must speak the truth in love as Ephesians 4 says, because that’s the only way we can actually help a brother or sister in Christ who has become ensnared in their sin. And so yes, we point out their sin, but we try to do it in the most gentle way possible, so we can actually FIX the problem without harming the person. And interestingly enough, when Paul says we are to restore people with a “spirit of gentleness,” the Greek word Paul uses here for “gentleness” is the word “Katarizo,” which is a medical term that is used for setting a fractured bone.

And this makes sense, because if you break your arm and go in to have a doctor re-set it and cast it, and he’s being all rough and violent with your broken arm, what are the chances your’e gonna just sit and there and let him do that? probably about zero! And so just like how a physical doctor needs to be gentle when re-setting a broken bone, so too do spiritual doctors need to be gentle when re-setting spiritual bones.

The truth is, we are all tempted to respond to other people’s sin with frustration and anger. Especially when they’ve come in for the 17th time after breaking a bone doing the same stupid thing that you’ve warned them not to do over and over again! We can easily find ourselves: “thinking we are something” and they are “nothing,” Which is as verse 3 says: “deceiving ourselves...” Instead, we must not deceive ourselves and follow Paul’s instructions in verse 4, which says:

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

Galatians 6:4-5 ESV

Alright, so this is a bit confusing... Are we suppose to bear one another’s burdens as Paul says in verse 3, Or… are we supposed to bear our own burden as verse 5 says? And the answer is, of course, “Yes!”

So the first part, about bearing one another’s burdens, we’ve already sort of talked about. But the idea here when Paul tells us to carry one another’s burdens is basically the idea that “no man is an island.” or in Christian terms, no individual Christian is the body of Christ. Instead, it takes ALL OF US to be the body of Christ, And so as one famous theologian put it: “We need somebody to lean on,” if we are going to live a victorious Christian life as the body of Christ.

So practically, does God tell me to stay encouraged and not grow weary as a Christian? Yes He does.... But, am I tempted to grow weary as a Christian? Of course. And… the fact is, some of us - depending upon our place within the body of Christ, may struggle with that temptation more than others. And so what do we need? We need some of you Barabasses to come along and help shoulder, “or bear” the burden. And if you don’t know what that means, it means we need people who are encouragers to help encourage one another! That’s what Barnabbass was - He was the glass is half-full kind of guy! which is the kind of person the glass-is-half-empty kind of people need!

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

Galatians 6:6 ESV

At first glance, this verse looks sort of out place... But it’s not! Paul isn’t giving us fortune cookie theology. Paul is using a commonly known Proverb to teach the church that they must support, or shoulder ministers of the gospel. They must share - or pay - those who teach and labor in the gospel over them. and this is a truth that Paul further establishes in in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy.

Now, around here, we don’t talk about money all that often - at least I don’t think we do… Because partially, I just don’t like to, And the other partially, is because we pretty much only address it when it’s in the text.

And the reality is, as most commentators will tell you, this entire section here in chapter 6 is dealing with money and how love sacrifices for the good of the other... But… at the same time - while this section definitely has money in mind, that’s not all it has in mind. Because how we use our money is just one aspect of our love that we must use in order to bear other people’s burdens. Because yes, it certainly involves being generous and sacrificial with your money, but it also involves being generous and sacrificial with our time and other resources and gifting that God has given us. and that’s not always very easy to do, Especially in a culture that has found a way to be as busy as we often are!

But the reality is, you can’t bear other people’s burdens without sacrifice! It’s going to eat up a lot of your time, It’s going to eat up your financial resources as you support other Christians and your church, And it’s going to emotionally, intellectually, and physically drain you! BUT, this is the law of Christ - or the Law of Love - that we are called to JOYFULLY obey!

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV

And so, yes - at one one level Paul is saying that we need to bear each other’s burdens, in a gentle and loving way, which is what Christian service is all about. And another thing, you can’t do that if you’re not frequently around other Christians - which is why the starting point for most of this is simply having a ministry of presence! It’s being here for church, Sunday School, our Wednesday night prayer groups, and joining a small group ministry which we are launching in 2024. And trust me, I know - this requires sacrifice It requires labor! But it is a labor worth the work, because of the harvest will be worth it all!

As Paul tell us in the verse I just read, If you’re not actively engaged in Christians service of others, then you’re sowing sparingly, And if you’re sowing sparingly, then don’t be surprised when you reap sparingly.

So yes, we must carry one another’s burdens, but Paul also tells us that we need to keep watch over ourselves lest we too will fall and become entrapped ourselves. We can’t solely rely on everyone else do all of the heavy lifting! We have to stay focused on ourselves in a good way, and not in a bad way.

What do I mean? For one, “test your own work.” Which is Paul’s way of saying: “Keep your eyes on your own bobber!” And that’s not a contradiction with everything we just said about helping other Christians with their sin. No, what Paul is saying here is that we shouldn’t compare ourselves with others and then start to “think we are something” - as verse 3 mentions. No, instead, we test our own work! By comparing ourselves to Christ.

But… if you’re going to do that, you have to not only compare yourself to Christ, But you have to compare yourself with yourself... Right? Like… how do I know if I’m becoming more like Jesus? By looking at all of the Christians around me who aren’t as strong as I am in certain regards? No... I compare myself with Christ by comparing myself with myself. By comparing myself today with who I was yesterday, Last week, Last month, last year, and last decade....

And so test yourself, Paul says. Examine your own work, And then your reason to boast will be in yourself alone and not in your neighbor! You won’t look at them and think: “Man… I really am an All-Star Christian! “Look at how many times I strike out compared to THAT GUY!” “What a total clown that Christian is!” He probably shouldn’t even be on the team!

And in response to this, Paul says:

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:3 ESV

The truth is, even if I strike out less than you do, I still strike out. and if continue to deceive myself and think I’m something when I’m nothing, then make no mistake, for as verses 7-8 says:

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV

And yet as Christians, As the redeemed children of God, By God’s grace we sow NOT in the flesh, but in the spirit! Which means we WILL REAP NOT CORRUPTION AND ETERNAL DESTRUCTION But Eternal life! And that is what we must continue long for if we are going to not grow weary in doing good.

To avoid growing weary in our work, we must:

In verse 9 Paul writes:

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

Galatians 6:9 ESV

Here in this verse, we have what is called an: “If -> then clause.” If we do grow weary and give up, THEN we will reap a great harvest.

Now, what is Paul saying here? Is he making a push now for salvation by works? Is he saying: “I know it’s tempting to become weary and give up, but keep doing works so you can go to heaven!”

Obviously not. Paul’s just spent most of Galatians arguing that we are saved by grace, not by works. and so it wouldn’t make sense for him to throw the opposite point in here. That wouldn’t make any sense. Think about it: You don’t write a book on the dangers of eating processed fats and in the last few paragraphs of your book suddenly say: “Alright, now let’s all make sure to eat our processed fats!” So no - let’s give Paul a little more credit that’s not what He is doing here.

Without a doubt, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It’s not of works so that no one can boast. But - works still play a role in our lives. Not a saving role, Or a justifying us before God role. No, that’s what the cross was for, when Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died.

Instead, works now have two-fold role. For non-Christians, their works condemn them - never save them. Right? On the day of judgment, which is coming, God will not be mocked. For whatever one sows so shall he reap. Those who sow in the flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. And your works will be the basis of your condemnation and judgment before God.

But not so for believers. No, for believers, our works do not save us, but they do store up rewards for us, which we will reap!. But they also do another thing for us as well. And as I explain this, not only do I need be VERY careful here in how I do, But you, as the listener, need to be very careful to be a good listener so you don’t misunderstand me.

Now, as Christians, we are saved by Grace through faith alone in Christ alone, not of works - PERIOD - FULL STOP! But let me ask you this… What justifies our faith? Hmmm? What proves whether or not we have saving faith or the demon faith that James talks about that doesn’t save?

Whether we said the right combination of words… Or whether we really meant the prayer that said that one time when we were 7? Is that i? No - that’s not it. What determines whether or not you have saving faith is if the faith you have produces NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE in you! Which is why Paul just explained in Galatians chapter 5 that we must walk in the spirit, not the flesh, and thus produce the FRUIT of the spirit... Right?

And so - and stick with me here… We are justified by FAITH alone not of works, But our Faith is justified by our works...

Does that sound scary? it shouldn’t… And the reason it shouldn’t is because the POWERFUL gospel of Jesus Christ that saved you and justified you before God, is also the one that IS sanctifying you, and WILL one day soon GLORIFY you. And if you don’t believe me here, I encourage you to really dive into Romans chapter 8 and the unbreakable chain of salvation! And it truly is unbreakable!

And so when it comes to your works - what you sow. If you look to other people… yeah, you’re gonna be pretty disheartened… But… if you look to Christ, and HIS MIGHTY work upon the cross, and the promises of God to not only save you, but keep saving you, and then finally one day fully and finally save you, do you know what you’ll see? You’ll see a lot of sin and selfishness. But underneath all the gunk that still needs to go, you’ll see something else. You’ll see Christ in you, who is slowly but surely making you more Christ-like, month by month, year by year, and decade by decade. And as you do, your confidence in your faith won’t be in your works! oh no - never! It will be in the ONE who is the AUTHOR and the FINISHER of our faith! And as we look to the Author and FINISHER of our faith, we can say - as the Apostle Paul said:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

And so in the meantime, we strive to sow in the spirit, not in the flesh, knowing that we will, in good time, reap a reward beyond our wildest imaginations. But we must not give up! We must press on, trusting in Christ Jesus, refusing to trust the sweetest frame but to WHOLLY LEAN ON JESUS NAME! For on Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Christian, that is our hope and stay! that is what keeps us pressing on, and not growing weary of doing good! It’s not because we fool ourselves into thinking the labor is lovely! It’s not! At least not always. Sure there are some wonderful moments in the labor, And by God’s grace we do get to taste some small appetizers from time to time.

But it is not the labor we are hoping and delighting in, No, it’s the harvest! Do you think ministry is all kittens and rainbows? No! It can be extremely frustrating if you let it be! because ministry is a black hole, where no matter how much you throw into it, it always seems to demand more, and more, and more. And not only that, but can’t even tell most of the time if the labor is doing much of anything, other than tire you out! And yet, we know that our labor, if done in love for the Lord is producing a great and plentiful harvest!

In 1973, when William Carey arrived in India as a missionary because of his burden to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who had never even heard the name before, he labored week after week, month after month, and year after year - for seven years without a single convert! And throughout these years, though Carey was often discouraged, he was never defeated, and labored on trusting in Christ and the power of the gospel. In one of his letters he wrote back to his sisters, he wrote:

“I feel as a farmer does about his crop: sometimes I think the seed is springing, and thus I hope; a little blasts all, and my hopes are gone like a cloud. They were only weeds which appeared; or if a little corn sprung up, it quickly dies, being either chocked with weeds, or parched up by the sun of persecution. Yet I still hope in God, and will go forth in his strength, and make mention of his righteousness, even of his only.”

And then, finally, on December 28th, 1800, Carey baptized his first Hindu convert in the Ganges River, a carpenter named Krishna Pal. William Ward,

And in writing in his diary that day, Carey wrote: “Ye gods of stone and clay, did ye not tremble, when in the Triune Name one soul shook you from his feet as dust?” And with that one convert, who shook off his pagan idols as dust from his feet, that Carey saw a great harvest of countless converts in India.

Pastors and deacons... Evangelists... Teachers… especially our children’s teachers... Worship team members.... Nursery workers... Counselors... Future Small group leaders and small group members.. Husbands and wives... Parents... Children,... People of God!

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 NIV

Do you sometimes feel like the toil is not worth the task? Do you ever struggle to not become weary of the work? If so, continue to look to Christ Jesus, The one who labored for us, even to the point of death on the cross, And why? Because of the great love with which He loved us, And out of His love, He labored as He longed for us to live eternally secure, forever with Him.

Don’t grow weary my friends. Remember that Christ is coming, and with Him our reward of being forever with Him! And so Labor on, reminding yourself of this. Refuse to grumble about the labor like the Israelites did, And if you find someone else grumbling in their weariness, you who are spiritual restore them with a spirit of gentleness! For...

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV) And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

By God’s grace, may we not grow weary of doing good, and continue on sowing from the Spirit of life, who will by God’s grace through Jesus Christ, enables us to reap everlasting life.

This is the manuscript the sermon was preached from, so the recording may differ in places.