In Galatians 6:9 we read, "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Paul, in this passage, is admonishing the Galatians to not become weary, lose courage, or faint in doing good. Paul saw the ever present danger of Christians doing good for awhile then becoming negligent in doing good things or minding spiritual things.
Paul exhorts them not to be weary due to the fact that weariness can cause one to faint, or lose sight of the goal. The attitude by which Paul lived his life is important for one to possess if they are to not grow weary. Paul earlier had said, "I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved, and gave himself for me." We, as Christians, must understand that the lives that we live are to be lived for Christ. We must not be looking to earthly, temporal things, but rather to the spiritual and heavenly things. It is essential that we place Christ before self as Paul did in his life (Philippians 3:7-14). As Christians we must "Set our affection on things above and not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2).
What should we do to "set our affections above" and to live a Christ centered life? Peter speaks of the Christians life as one of diligently adding to our faith "virtue, and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8). Peter tells us that by giving diligence and adding these things to our lives we will not be barren, but "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10). When one is living a life giving diligence to adding the graces Peter described he will not have his attention on things of the earth, but on things above. One who lives in this way will have no time to grow weary and to faint or as Peter puts it "if ye do these things ye shall never fall" (2 Peter 1:10).
The Hebrew writer exhorts that "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2) Why were the Hebrew Christians exhorted to do this? Verse 3, continues "For consider Him, lest ye be wearied and faint in you minds" (Hebrews 12:3). By reminding ourselves of the great sacrifice of Christ made for us, we can be encouraged as we live and endure the trials and tribulations of this life.
In latter portion of Galatians 6:9, Paul reminds the Galatians that "We shall reap, if we faint not." This shows the necessity of finishing what we have started. Many believe and teach that once one is saved, one can never fall. But this verse teaches us that our reaping will be determined by our not fainting, growing weary and quitting.
May we all have a strong, growing, abiding, and entrusting faith in God to prevent the weariness that may come. May we keep our sights on the things above and constantly looking to and obeying Jesus as we walk through this life.
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 6/29/97.