Edward Kimball was a Sunday school teacher determined to win his class to Christ. A young Dwight Moody would fall asleep during his lessons, but Kimball remained resolute and even met Moody at the shoe store where he worked and urged him to give his life to Christ. Kimball left the store thinking he’d failed miserably, but because of that encounter, Dwight Lyman Moody did commit his life to Christ, and he became one of the most prolific preachers of his time. Moody’s conversion and ministry places him in a select group of influential evangelists who were used by God to bring millions to Christ: Frederick Brotherton Meyer, J. Wilbur Chapman, Billy Sunday, Mordecai Ham, and Billy Graham.
Our propensity to sin, pressing responsibilities, and a lack of appreciation all give us convenient excuses for not doing good. But the apostle Paul reminds us to not become tired of doing good, especially to those in the family of believers. For at the right time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9-10).
Perhaps the reason we become weary in doing good is that we’re working for the approval of others and not for God. But if we pursue doing the right stuff for God’s cause, we’ll gain satisfaction and joy that only He can give (Galatians 6:4-5).
A Sunday school teacher might understandably feel less than enthusiastic about preparing a lesson for a group of uninterested children. If Edward Kimball had given up on the students in his class, we might never have had the likes of Dwight L. Moody and Billy Graham. Moody once said, “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 15:1-21
More:
Read James 2:14-17 to see how doing good to others is evidence of our faith in Jesus.
Next:
Where can you do good this week, especially among the family of believers? If you’ve become weary in doing good, pause and ask God if you’re still doing what He wants you to do. Regain your strength and don’t give up!
gary1schelvan on October 30, 2014 at 4:08 am
Hello Ruth,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful post. I like your point about becoming weary of doing good. Is what we’re doing for our own glory, or for the further glory of God, big difference. Paul was so right, we can’t become tired of doing good, we can’t give up, press on for Jesus who died for us on the cross.
As your doing good, Dwight L. Moody’s comment, “There are many of us willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us willing to do little things.” is good to remember because it’s the little things that help so much to keep the whole body on track.
godlove on October 30, 2014 at 8:49 am
So true, it’s all about the “little things”.
It’s a pity so many of us have the human attitude (translate “attitude of the flesh”) to seek for appreciation for what we do by men first and then by GOD. I think this state of mind is what makes us more interested in doing great things (which men too will see) than to do the proverbial little things.
Thanks a lot for this.
seeking777always on October 30, 2014 at 12:21 pm
I appreciate this post, it gets so difficult sometimes for people to give God the glory because of all of the evil distractions in life. It is important to give God credit for even the small things because praising him in the small things makes praising him in the big things even more powerful.
Planting a seed through praising God in a small thing will lay the foundation for that seed to grow immensely and one day become the big tree that it was always meant to be.
Mike Wittmer on October 30, 2014 at 3:30 pm
I love this story. May we faithfully serve Jesus, and leave the results to Him.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on October 31, 2014 at 9:55 am
These are such great thoughts – thanks! Michael Hyatt recently wrote about integrity and how it seems to have aquired a new meaning. It’s a word often used when describing someone who’s ‘true to themselves’ – the focus is on self. One of the most powerful ways to be the ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in our world and ultimately to turn a heart to Christ, is by living in integrity; always being faithful, honest, true to our word and our commitments – no matter the cost to self.
Winn Collier on November 1, 2014 at 11:06 am
It’s so easy to grow weary. I’m glad to know that even Jesus found himself exhausted. Thankfully, the strength comes as a gift.