Quitting - Giving Up
Continuing on with our theme from last time:
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NASB) [13] But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
I read this verse and I get the indication that I am to keep doing good, not to become weary of doing it. Why? Because people see Jesus through me. I am becoming more and more like Jesus and I will continue to show off the righteousness that I have gained if I continue doing good. The other reason is that by doing good you may have the opportunity of talking to someone who asks you why you are doing what you are doing. The bottom line is to not quit but to continue even though we feel like quitting.
Galatians 6:9 (NASB) [9] Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Sometimes it seems like no matter what good we do, others seem to ignore our efforts. This verse tells us to not loose heart, that we will reap benefit from our doing the works of God. It may not be in this lifetime, but maybe we will reap the rewards in heaven or when the Lord comes again. Even in the Old Testament, the Lord indicated that we are to continue:
Micah 6:8 (NASB) [8] He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love *kindness, And to walk *humbly with your God?
Kindness shows up and people are attracted to it. Maybe because so much of what is experienced now does not have kindness mixed in with it. This is not how the world treats its people, this is different this is the Lord's leading. Love flowing from us can only come from our relationship with God.
1 John 3:17-18 (NASB) [17] But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his *heart *against him, how does the love of God abide in him? [18] Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
This verse tells us that we show love by our doing, not by talking about it. So it's back to the don't grow weary in doing good.
Luke 9:62 (NASB) [62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Abandonment of the work indicates that we are not fit to be in the kingdom. So where does that leave us? we are not to weary of doing good and we are not to stop working for the kingdom. The term "looking back" here signifies two greek words: blepo (earnest contemplation) and opiso (back, unto the things behind). This means that we are looking back at the way things were, possibly before we put our trust in the Lord. Since we are being changed from the inside out, we should abandon our review of what was and concentrate on what will be. In this we start to see where the Lord is leading us and what He would have us to do. Focus is therefore important, and it is always at the task at hand (the plow, the work, etc.).
Philippians 4:13 (NASB) [13] I can do all things *through Him who strengthens me.
We might possibly want to give up because the task seems so impossible. But all things are possible with God and as this verse shows, we are given strength to do the task. We only have to trust in the Lord. There is no need to quit, to give up, because the way is hard - the Lord will give us the strength to accomplish his purpose. This is in spite of what would seem to be overwhelming odds against us.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB) [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NASB) Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do [10] Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Colossians 3:22-25 (NASB) [22] Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters *on earth, not with *external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. [23] Whatever you do, do your work *heartily, as for the Lord *rather than for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward *of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. [25] For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and *that without partiality.
John 5:17 (NASB) [17] But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Jesus is our example in work.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NASB) [13] But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
I read this verse and I get the indication that I am to keep doing good, not to become weary of doing it. Why? Because people see Jesus through me. I am becoming more and more like Jesus and I will continue to show off the righteousness that I have gained if I continue doing good. The other reason is that by doing good you may have the opportunity of talking to someone who asks you why you are doing what you are doing. The bottom line is to not quit but to continue even though we feel like quitting.
Galatians 6:9 (NASB) [9] Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Sometimes it seems like no matter what good we do, others seem to ignore our efforts. This verse tells us to not loose heart, that we will reap benefit from our doing the works of God. It may not be in this lifetime, but maybe we will reap the rewards in heaven or when the Lord comes again. Even in the Old Testament, the Lord indicated that we are to continue:
Micah 6:8 (NASB) [8] He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love *kindness, And to walk *humbly with your God?
Kindness shows up and people are attracted to it. Maybe because so much of what is experienced now does not have kindness mixed in with it. This is not how the world treats its people, this is different this is the Lord's leading. Love flowing from us can only come from our relationship with God.
1 John 3:17-18 (NASB) [17] But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his *heart *against him, how does the love of God abide in him? [18] Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
This verse tells us that we show love by our doing, not by talking about it. So it's back to the don't grow weary in doing good.
Luke 9:62 (NASB) [62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Abandonment of the work indicates that we are not fit to be in the kingdom. So where does that leave us? we are not to weary of doing good and we are not to stop working for the kingdom. The term "looking back" here signifies two greek words: blepo (earnest contemplation) and opiso (back, unto the things behind). This means that we are looking back at the way things were, possibly before we put our trust in the Lord. Since we are being changed from the inside out, we should abandon our review of what was and concentrate on what will be. In this we start to see where the Lord is leading us and what He would have us to do. Focus is therefore important, and it is always at the task at hand (the plow, the work, etc.).
Philippians 4:13 (NASB) [13] I can do all things *through Him who strengthens me.
We might possibly want to give up because the task seems so impossible. But all things are possible with God and as this verse shows, we are given strength to do the task. We only have to trust in the Lord. There is no need to quit, to give up, because the way is hard - the Lord will give us the strength to accomplish his purpose. This is in spite of what would seem to be overwhelming odds against us.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB) [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NASB) Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do [10] Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
Colossians 3:22-25 (NASB) [22] Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters *on earth, not with *external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. [23] Whatever you do, do your work *heartily, as for the Lord *rather than for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward *of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. [25] For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and *that without partiality.
John 5:17 (NASB) [17] But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
Jesus is our example in work.