A Caution Against Declension in the Ways of Practical Piety
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.


I. Let us inquire, what is THE NATURE OF THE EVIL AGAINST WHICH WE ARE GUARDED IN THE TEXT. "Be not weary in well-doing." And for this purpose it is not improper we should briefly touch upon the nature of the well-doing here intended, that we may be enabled the more easily to understand what it is to be weary of it. By well-doing here we are to understand, in general, the duties we owe to God, our neighbour, and ourselves. These are of great extent; they are many in number, and important in their nature. There is not a single relation we sustain to God, or to each other, but what is fruitful of a variety of these duties. They include all that the sacred oracles mean by piety towards God; by justice, benevolence and humanity towards our neighbour, and by sobriety and temperance in our conduce towards ourselves. These duties are called well-doing, because in a conscientious observance of them we do well; we comply with the approving will of God. The weariness in well-doing, against which we are here guarded, ordinarily begins in the less of that relish for Divine things, and that pleasure in the ways of God, which the person may have had in days past.

II. WHY WE SHOULD GUARD AGAINST BEING THUS WEARY IN WELL-DOING, AND PURSUE THE CONTRARY LINE OF CONDUCT.

1. Because this evil, as described, is a fatal symtom of an unregenerate state. True grace is a living principle, and wherever it is found in the heart, it always tends towards perfection.

2. Those who grow weary in well-doing, so as to forsake the ways of practical godliness, lose all their former labour and pains in religion. It is not enough that we being in the ways of God, that we set out in the paths of piety, but we must persevere in them; we must endure to the end; for he alone "that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved."

3. We ought not to grow weary in well-doing, for God is not weary in doing good to us. He not only gave us our being, but He holds our souls in life. By His visitation alone we are preserved.

4. We have many bright examples of patience and perseverence in well-doing, to encourage us not to be weary in it.

5. There is a glorious reward before us, if we do not grow weary in well-doing. This is the argument urged by the apostle in our text: "for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Again: It will be a full reward. Never did the most plenteous harvest reward the labours of the husbandman more certainly or fully, than the joys and glories of the future world shall reward the faithful, persevering, and diligent disciples of Jesus. They shall enter into the joy of their Lord. Once more: This reward will bear some proportion to our faithfulness and diligence in our Lord's service here.Concluding admonitions:

1. As ever you would desire not to be weary in well-doing, beware of sloth in the ways of God. This is a sin natural to us; but there are few greater enemies to vital godliness than it is.

2. Beware of venturing on known sin, especially the sin to which you are most inclined.

(John Rodgers, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

WEB: Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up.




Two Kinds of Harvest
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