Read: 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15
Devotion: This world is full of weariness and futility. It can be relentless. We live in a world that is full of toil, strife, unfulfilled ambition, frustrating work, hindrances, and all sorts of other troubles that dishearten us.
Solomon observed this truth during his life, remarking, “All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing,” (Eccl. 1:8). For some, the difficulties and frustrations of life accumulate until the person simply gives up. Perhaps you studied diligently for a test to only fail in spite of your hard work. All of your efforts start to seem pointless, and you are tempted to throw your arms up in frustration and give up studying all together.
We can be tempted by this attitude when we try to do good. I remember when I had first started in ministry there was a homeless man who came to our office one weekday looking for money. I had zero experience with this type of situation, so I led him to our pastor. He spoke with this man for a little while, sharing the gospel with him and getting to know him. The pastor then gave the man a small amount of money out of his own pocket, and the man left.
Well, this started an ongoing relationship with the man and us where he would come by the church infrequently, almost always looking for help, whether that was money or a ride somewhere. Over time learned that he had serious medical issues related to drugs and alcohol, and yet was doing very little to change his lifestyle. In every interaction with the man, as my pastor’s relationship with him grew, my pastor would remind him of his need for Christ, rebuke the man for the sins he kept falling into, and give him direct, reasonable, biblical instruction about what he should do. On occasion, he would meet some immediate physical needs by giving him a ride to the hospital or buying him some food. This continued, intermittently for the better part of a year until we eventually stopped hearing from him.
The last time we saw him he was no better off, physically or spiritually, than when we first met him. Since then I haven’t heard anything about him, whether he is still alive or passed away, and more importantly, if he was ever saved.
Thinking about how seemingly futile our efforts were with this man and hearing similar stories from other Christians working with the homeless, we might grow weary in doing good to that demographic of people. Now, I certainly learned valuable lessons about how best to handle homeless people coming to our church looking for help, and there are a lot of things I would do differently than I did back then. But the experience wasn’t futile, and it certainly won’t prevent me from ministering to homeless people in the future.
The Christian cannot throw up their hands and abandon good works. A believer’s good works are a testimony of God’s grace toward us, that he has redeemed us through his Son (Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12). The believer also knows that their good works, though they may appear futile and feel wearisome in the moment, are not ultimately futile because God sees all (see Heb 6:10) and Christ is coming soon.
Christ’s return is the major theme of 2 Thessalonians (see esp. 1 Thess 2:1ff). Christ is coming back and so we cannot grow weary in doing good (1 Thess 3:13; see also Gal 6:10). Solomon’s observed that life was characterized by an irremediable weariness if viewed without God in the picture. Of course life is ultimately pointless for those who don’t believe in God because they live and then die and then that’s it. But as Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl 12:13-14). God reigns above, Christ is coming back soon, and there is an eternity to be spent with him.
Therefore, as believers, even though we live in a fallen world filled with wearisome days, it is all meaningful, especially the good we do by faith in Christ. So, do not grow weary in doing good. As Paul instructs the Corinthians in light of Christ’s resurrection and his future return, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Ponder and Pray: Consider specific times when you felt weary doing good. How does Christ’s promise that he is coming soon encourage us to press on in doing good despite the weariness we feel? Finish your time with the Lord by praying for continued perseverance in your walk with Christ and obedience to him.