2 Thessalonians 3:13 – “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”
That word weary means “to feel or show tiredness.” If you’re like me, not a day goes by that I don’t feel tired at some point throughout the day. In all honesty, if I don’t have some form of caffeine on my way into work, I’m as good as useless that day. But when it comes to the things of God, though I may be exhausted, when I purpose to labor for the Lord that tiredness fades in the light of my ambition to serve the Lord. After all, the joy of the Lord is our strength. My spirit always seems to perk up when I walk into church, when I get in the Bible, when I listen to good singing, or simply fellowship with the fellow saints. THE SPIRIT will always help us do the will of God hen my flesh fights against it.
That exhaustion of the flesh is not what the Apostle Paul is addressing in this verse. He is admonishing us not to become spiritually exhausted. If your spirit is tired of labor, your flesh cannot be compelled to work despite its weariness. Many teach that this verse is a directive to avoid being tired; but they miss the whole picture. If the spirit is willing and excited to do something for the Lord, I have found that the Lord will supply me with the energy to do it. But if my spirit is tired, no matter how much energy I have in the flesh, I will not accomplish anything for the Lord.
We’ve all had, and most likely mill have again, those days that the same burst of excitement is just enough to keep us from pulling our hair out while we labor for Him. Yet, we are able to endure the exhaustion because our desire for God is stronger than the pull of the world. The world will attempt to strip away at your desire to follow God, the flesh will throw up stumbling blocks to impede of path, and the devil will always strive to douse the fire that God put in our hearts. We become weary in well doing when we fail to safeguard our passion for the things of God.
If I am passionate about God, nothing will keep me from Him. But if the world has eroded my desire for the Lord, I am constantly weary and most miserable. We safeguard our desire for the thing of God by strengthening our defenses against that erosion by applying the Word to our hearts.
I know that this week is Vacation Bible School and some have devoted to serve the Lord by assisting. I know that if God is moving that Satan will also be fighting. Ask the Lord to give you an extra dose each morning of the things of God so that you can withstand the wiles of the Devil. Reassert your love for the things of God and anticipate that God will do something the rest of this week. Each day henceforth, strive to grow your love for the things of God stronger than it was the day before.
One of the worst things a Christian can be, besides castaway, is weary. What impact can we make if the world sees someone laboring without joy, moving slothfully, and with spiritual bags under their eyes? Passion will prevent those. Excitement, though it may irritate some, will cause others to be curious.
Who wants to drag through life? With a passion for God, I can find His lily in any valley.
Your fellowservant in Christ,
Bro. Jordan Foster
Comments