I have a soft spot for Uganda’s street kids and have tried to help many of them enter church-based programs that provide food, housing, school fees, and quality mentors. Often, such efforts are rewarding. Occasionally, however, the outcomes are deeply disappointing—particularly when the children I’ve loved and invested in end up stealing from me and returning to the streets.
Last month, after two convincing young storytellers conned me out of several hundred dollars (a story for later), I concluded I’d had enough. I thumbed a text message to the culprits’ mentor that said, “Your boys have pushed me to the limit. So until further notice, I’m taking a sabbatical from helping street kids.”
Minutes after I’d expressed my resolve, a New Testament passage pervaded my thoughts: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).
I tried to distance my situation from the exhortation, but couldn’t. So, I dug further into God’s Word to uncover how I might avoid tiring of “doing what is good” in the future and gain needed discernment in the process. Here’s a sampling of what I learned:
• Recognize that God wants us to give wisely. “You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
• Keep in mind that “whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
• Remember that God has created you and me “anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).
Today, thank God for allowing you to join in His work, and keep doing what is good.
More:
I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ (Philemon 6).
Next:
Jot a note to a generous friend, thanking him or her for helping people who are in need. What good thing has God laid on your heart to do?
marvin williams on December 15, 2009 at 6:14 am
Roxanne, thank you for sharing your heart and your insight from God. We all get weary in well-doing – giving, serving, teaching, living righteously and seemingly not being blessed, while those around us live unrighteously and are being blessed – we all get weary. But, your words have encouraged me today. Blessings on you and your family!
TinaRob on December 15, 2009 at 7:53 am
Pastor Williams thank you for your encouraging words to Roxanne because your words have encouraged me more. We do sometimes get weary in well doing and it can bring on many dysfunctional feelings when it comes to our duties to God. “Be not weary in well doing” reminds me that we ought to always do good because God has our reward in heaven. We must be about our Father’s business just like Jesus was. Be blessed!
lydia tejada on December 15, 2009 at 9:14 am
Thankyou so much for this message
I too was feeling weary of doing the
Lord’s work and not understanding
why others don’t respond to the truth
of His plan for all of us. I too was going to give up and turn them over to God because I thought that I was
supposed to step aside and let Him
take care of the rest. I now know in
my heart that I should never tire of
helping others even if they don’t get
the why because I am not doing it
to please them but for the Glory and
Honor of my Lord. May He bless you
all and equip you with the love of not
self but others who also need his love
In Christ , Lydia
loyal on December 15, 2009 at 9:26 am
Thank you for your message. Everything we are doing, it is our Lord whom we are pleasing. This kind of message will remind us not to get weary for God is greater above all else. God bless.
Corryn on December 15, 2009 at 10:12 am
Thank you sooo much for a timely message! I was just again blindly accused of doing a wrong thing! Thank you for reminding me that God is the One overseeing my actions and activities and is the Just One. May God bless you.
mikan14 on December 15, 2009 at 10:36 am
Often times I’m feeling ‘tired’, because some young people haven’t been responding to us, or to the things we must do for the Lord. I’m feeling helpless, and I cant think when will they be able to know and understand the ways of the Lord? When will they have true commitments? Only the Lord knows. But all I (or we) can do is wait, and wait upon the Lord. He has wonderful plans for each one of us. As Oswald Chambers said, “It is impossible to get exhausted in work for God. We get exhausted because we try to do God’s work in our own way.”
God bless! =)
kewi on December 15, 2009 at 11:00 am
Great post Roxanne, I think we all need a little nudge in this area. Thanks for the bible verses showing direction
Lightweaver on December 16, 2009 at 9:52 am
What a wonderful message and certainly a blessing. Having started an intercessory prayer group with an online social network, my co-moderator and myself have taken on the challenge of counseling those who stagger in their faith or have succumbed to such circumstances that they feel they no longer can believe in God. Each person’s difficulties present new challenges, but when either of us feels like giving up, we are reminded that Christ never gave up on us, and that though we may not see the difference we may make in a person’s life, God, however, does. We are mere handmaidens of the Lord and mighty prayer warriors before the throne of God. Thank you for posting this devotion.