DOING GODD

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

DOING GOOD - PART ONE

DOING GOOD - PART TWO

DOING GOOD - PART THREE

(Two children helping an elderly man)

(A man giving his shoes to a homeless girl)

“Doing Good”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  (Galatians 6:9-10).

Whenever we are tempted to do less than our best, or perhaps to quit completely, we ought to remember this verse and the truths that it contains. Whenever we find ourselves getting tired of or burned out from or losing enthusiasm for the Lord's work we need to remember the words of our text. this is excellent advice for anybody who is seeking to serve the Lord and accomplish His work. In the Lord's service, it is always too soon to quit. In the Lord's service, it is never time to slacken our efforts. In the Lord's service, we never come to the point of giving up.

As Christians, what is our calling? It is "doing good." Each one of us is called to do good. That is what Christian life and service are all about. We Christians are not only believers; we also are behavers. As James puts it: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22).  We are not only called to faith but we are also called to do the will of God and the work of God.  It is clear from the Bible that God expects all of His people to be involved in doing good, not just being good.

We are to do good to all people. But it starts off with fellow Christians. It makes no sense to do good in the world if we don't first do good to those in the household of faith. It makes no sense to help out our unbelieving neighbor if we ignore our own family.  “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, "but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8).

When we do good, we are simply following the example of Christ. Paul tells us in another place to adopt the mind of Christ, to imitate His example.  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). He healed the disabled – the lame, the deaf, the blind. He embraced outcasts – lepers, prostitutes, tax-collectors. He made time for widows, orphans, and children. He took the side of the poor, the little guy, and the underdog against those who were rich, powerful, and influential. He fed the hungry. He befriended the lonely. He went out of His way to minister to the sick. He not only had compassion on the crowds but He also taught them.  "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38) . Every time we do good, we who are Christians are simply following in the steps of the Master.

Paul speaks to us not only about our calling to do good, but also about a danger. He speaks about the danger of growing "weary in doing good." It has often been said that though we get weary in the Lord's work, we must never get weary of the Lord's work. For when that happens we cease to be God's joyful servants. We then begrudge doing good. And, instead of helping people we end up hurting them and making them miserable.  Sometimes Christians develop a weariness of the mind and heart, a loss of excitement and challenge; they become tired of doing the same old thing. It produces a ministry that is dull, lifeless, routine, and ineffective. Before long, we start to get critical and resentful.

Sometimes Christians are tempted to quit doing good because it seems to do no good. No matter how many times you help someone, it never seems to be enough, it seems they always need more.

Sometimes Christians get turned off with doing good because those they are helping are taking advantage of them or are being lazy or are spending money foolishly. Or, those they help whine and complain instead of being grateful and thankful.

Sometimes Christians think they don't have the time. It takes away from my work. It takes away from my leisure. It takes away from my family.

Regardless of the situation or the circumstances, Paul's advice to us is this: "Let us not become weary in doing good." Keep on helping, keep on ministering, keep on serving, keep on doing the Lord's work. 

"Let us not become weary in doing good." Look at doing good as a privilege. If you keep reminding yourself that it is a privilege to serve the Lord, you are not likely to become weary in doing good. Say to yourself, "God has chosen me to be His servant." And be amazed at the wonder of this.

The last thing Paul speaks of is a promise. "Let us not become weary in doing good," says Paul, "for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

The image here is of a farm. If there is one worker who knows what it means to stay on the job, it is the farmer. He must prepare the soil, sow the seed, pull the weeds, and water the plants. He can never afford to give up or quit. Regardless of the long hours, the heat of the sun, or the cold of the rain, he must keep on working. And in spite of all this he has no guarantee of reaping a harvest.

The farmer has no guarantee of the harvest, but the Christian worker does have a guarantee. God promises a harvest to those who not give up on doing good. God promises a harvest to those who do not become weary in doing good.