Would you agree that this world could use some good? This blog is about using your freedom from the law in Christ Jesus to do good. We are going to examine Galatians 6:9-10, which states, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
I think we all would agree that in a world full of sin, a world full of chaos, a world of darkness, a world full of sadness and sorrow, and a world full of division (masks, vaccines, skin color), this world could use some goodness. In a world full of wars and rumors of wars, we could all use some goodness. In a world full of sickness and hopelessness and death, this world could use some goodness. And who better to provide such goodness than the church of the living God.
God does not want his church sitting on the sidelines doing nothing in a world that is full of darkness. God wants his church actively shining the light of the gospel. God wants his church actively doing good in the world. God wants his church actively living out faith in the form of good works.
My aim is to encourage you to be that source of goodness. I want to encourage you to not give up doing good, even when it feels worthless. I want you to understand what good we are supposed to be doing. I want you to understand whom we are to do good to. And I want you to understand there will be rewards and consequences for the good you do or the good you don’t do.
Point 1: We begin with Paul exhorting the believers not to become weary.
Galatians 6:9 states, “And let us not grow weary…” Paul is telling the Galatian believers, while including himself, notice he uses the word “us”, not to become tired. Don’t become exhausted. Don’t become fatigued. Don’t be overburdened. And this can be taken as physical or mental weariness. But the question is: what should they and we not become weary of doing?
Point 2: Paul is urging the believers in Galatia not to become “weary” of using their freedom to do good.
Galatian 6:9 states, “And let us not grow weary of doing good.” Paul’s encouragement to the believers in Galatia is this: Don’t become tired of doing what is good. Don’t become exhausted doing what is morally exceptional. Don’t become fatigued doing what is morally excellent. Don’t become debilitated in doing what is honorable. Don’t become overburdened by doing what is morally right.
This implies that the believers in Galatia were or at least at risk of growing tired of doing good, why? Why were they weary of doing good? Paul does not really tell us why, however, I believe it is because doing good in a world full of sin sometimes feels like you are getting know where. Sometimes it feels like no matter how much good you try to do, it makes little to no difference. You try to be a good person, and you try to do good things, but it feels like no one cares about the good you do. You exhaust yourself to do whatever good you can do in the world, but you look at the world around you, and you think, what’s the point? You try to be a good person, but all you get in return is hate, contempt, and ridicule. You try to be a good person, but you look at the world around you and you see the world is crumbling into chaos and godlessness, regardless of how good you are trying to be. That can become wearisome. It can become burdensome. And it can cause someone to become tired and want to give up.
Now, someone might say, I thought, because we are saved by faith alone in Christ alone, we did not have to concern ourselves with doing or being good? I thought we didn’t have to strive to do good? So, why is Paul exhorting the believers in Galatia to not give up doing good?
Point 3: Even though we are not saved by good deeds, it remains the duty of the Christian to do good.
Even though we are not saved by the good that we do, doing good works still matter for those who follow Jesus. Let me give you five reasons why good works still matter for the believer.
First, Jesus did good works. The Bible says in Acts 10:38, “He (referring to Jesus) went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” And as his followers, we are to do the good that Jesus did. For Jesus said in John 14:12, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
Secondly, good works are the result of being a new creation in Christ Jesus. The Bible says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” So, the good that the believer does is because the old is gone and the new has come. Good works done by the believer is a result of the old self having been crucified and the new self having been raised to life.
Thirdly, good works are the by-product of faith in Christ Jesus. The Bible says in James 2:14, 17, 18 & 26 , “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?…So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works…For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” While most religions – like Catholic, Islam & Morman – teach that good works + faith = salvation, Christianity teaches that faith = salvation + works. In other words, good works do not save us, but they are the result of our genuine, sincere, and saving faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, the good a believer does, is done because of their belief in Jesus Christ.
Fourthly, good works are done by the believer out of obedience to Jesus, and our obedience to Jesus is done as a result of our love for Jesus. Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” We don’t obey the commands of Jesus to do good simply because it is our duty, we do good because we love Jesus.
Lastly, the good works of the believer are meant to bring glory to God. The Bible says in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven.” When we were lost in sin and did not know Jesus as our Lord, we were prideful and selfish, doing good only to bring glory to self. But the good works of the believer are not meant to glorify self, they are meant to bring glory to God, magnify God, and make Him known to a lost, fallen, and dying world. And again, that can be wearisome. Now someone might ask, what good are we supposed to do?
Point 4: We are to do the good that Jesus did.
Recall again the words of Jesus in John 14:12, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” When Jesus was present in this world he taught, he preached, he evangelized, he did miracles and signs and wonders, he cast out demons, and he did many other acts of mercy and compassion.
We are mandated to do the same. As followers of Jesus, each of us are commissioned to teach and preach the gospel. We are commissioned to evangelize to the lost. We have been given authority to visit and pray over the sick and the demon possessed, and if God be willing, see them healed. We have been commissioned to take care of the poor, feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, give clothes to the naked, shelter the shelterless, give to the needy, adopt the orphan, and take care of the widow.
If you call yourself a follower of Jesus, this is your duty. These are the responsibility of every Christian. This is how each of us should use the freedom we have from the law. Many are under the impression these are the responsibilities of the Pastor. This is not true, and it is not true because we all make up the body of Christ. We all are the hands and feet of Jesus.
Someone might ask, Jesus did some pretty miraculous things, how am I to do the good that Jesus did? Answer: With the help of the Holy Spirit. If you recall from when we spent time studying the Gospel of John, we discussed that we will not do greater things in the sense that we can do greater miracles or signs or wonders than Jesus did. No one can do greater works and miracles than Jesus did. But we will do greater things than Jesus did in the sense that we will do such things in places he did not; and, we will do such things with the help of the Spirit; and, we will do such things, for the glory of God the Father. Now, someone might ask, to whom should we do good to?
Point 5: According to Paul, there is no exception to who we do good to.
Galatians 6:10 states, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone…”This implies that we should never grow weary, or tired, or fatigued, or overburdened to do the good that Jesus did to every person. No matter their nationality. No matter their language. No matter their skin tone. No matter how they look. No matter how they are dressed. No matter how they smell. No matter if they are popular or unpopular. No matter their social-economic class. No matter how they identify politically – independent, democratic, or republican. No matter if they live in the best part of town or the worst part of town. No matter if they are rich or poor. And no matter if they are saved or unsaved. Jesus did what good he did to the best of these and the least of these, and so should we.
This includes our enemies. Those who feel hatred for you and may foster harmful desires against you. We are commissioned to do the good that Jesus did even to those who hate us, curse us, and abuse us. In Luke 6:27-28, Jesus said, “But I say to you…’Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
This is what Jesus did. When Jesus went to die upon the cross of Calvary over 2,000 years ago, he lovingly and sacrificially died for men and women who were enemies of God. They were enemies of God because they had sinned against God. They had sinned against God because they had violated the law of God. These people are me. These people are you. And Jesus demands that we show the same mercy, and compassion, and love that he showed to us, to our worst enemy.
Point 6: Paul adds, we are to especially do good to those who are in the body of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 states, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Notice that Paul places special emphasis on the church. This implies that while we are to do good to those outside the body of Christ, doing good to those inside the body of Christ is a much higher priority. The primary focus for every believer should be doing good and serving those inside the church before they serve their workplace, their school, sports and anything else. Why? Why would Paul put a greater emphasis on the body of Christ?
The reason is because each one of us, who are saved by faith and made clean by the blood of Jesus, are fellow heirs to the Kingdom of God. We are no longer citizens of this fallen, sin-stained world; we are citizens of the household of God. And we are also brothers and sisters.
When I think about this, I think of the first century church. Recorded in the book of Acts, in the first century church, the believers had everything in common. They were united. They prayed together. They ate together. They read Scripture together. They took communion together. They evangelized together. They were devoted to one another. They forgave one another. They loved one another and served one another, the way Jesus showed them and instructed them. There was no needy person among them, because they sold their land, their houses, and their possessions, and took the proceeds to take care of one another by distributing the proceeds to each person as that person had need. Above all, they were devoted to Christ, which is why they were so devoted to one another. That is the way the church of Jesus Christ is supposed to operate.
Are we? Are we as devoted to one another as the 1st century church was? No. I do not believe so. When I look at the church today, I am concerned. I am concerned because when I look at the church today, I see we are divided; namely, divided by the color of a man’s skin and divided by denomination. I am concerned because I do not believe we pray together like we should, read the Bible together like we should, fellowship together like we should, evangelize together like we should, serve one another like we should, love one another like we should, forgive one another the way we should, nor are we devoted to one another the way we should be.
Why? Why are we not as devoted to one another as we ought to be? I believe it all boils down to a lack of devotion to Jesus. Christians today are so busy in their schedules, they have little time for Jesus or his church. Furthermore, Christians are so busy pursuing their selfish ambitions, they make little room for pursuing Jesus. When the church of this century starts devoting itself to Jesus first, and making Christ more of a priority, then you will see the church be devoted to one another the way it ought to be. Now, someone might ask, how often should we do good to one another?
Point 7: According to Paul, we should do good as often as we can.
Galatians 6:10 states, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” In other words, do good to everyone, including those in the body of Christ and those who are not, whenever you have the chance to do so. If the moment comes, whether you expect it or not, and you have an opportunity to do something good for someone, do it.
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:27, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. If you have the means to help someone who is hungry, feed them. If you have the means to provide shelter to the shelterless, give them shelter. If you have the means to help someone who has little clothing, clothe them. If you have the means to help someone who is thirsty, give them something to drink. If you have the means to help someone who is financially hurting, give them some money without expecting to get it back. Why? Why should we take opportunities that arise to help and do good? Why not just pass those opportunities up? Why not turn a blind eye?
If the opportunity comes, and you have the power to help, and you do not, your faith is no good. The Bible says in James 2:14-16, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” According to James, if someone comes to me, and I have the means to help them, and I do not, my faith is worthless.
If the opportunity comes, and you have the power to help, and you do not, you have sinned. The Bible says in James 4:17, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” If we have the means to clothe the naked, give shelter to the shelterless, give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, give to the needy, and we do not, we have sinned.
The Bible also says in 1 John 3:17-18, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” John is encouraging us to not only talk about the love of God, but to show the love of God by the good that we do. And John is implying that if we have the means to clothe the naked, give shelter to the shelterless, give drink to the thirsty, give to the needy, give food to the hungry, and we do not, the love of God does not abide in us.
Someone might ask, what if I feel they do not deserve it? What if I feel they do not deserve to receive good from me? I would say that we are recipients of what we do not deserve. We do not deserve the mercy of God, the compassion of God, the love of God, the grace of God, or the forgiveness of God; yet, God freely gave us these things anyway. Therefore, who are we to decide who deserves what?
If we do not do good to someone by giving what we have the power to give, because we decide someone is undeserving, we are hypocrites. According to Jesus in Luke 6:32-34, if we only give to those who can give back to us, if we only love those who love us, if we only do good to those who do good to us, and if we lend only to those who can pay us back, then we are no better than any unsaved person that walks on this planet. As God has been merciful to us, we are to be merciful to others. Now, someone might ask, why should we do the good that Jesus did? Why does any of this concern me?
Point 8: According to Paul, so that we will reap a harvest.
Galatians 6:9 states, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” What will we reap? If we do not grow weary of using our freedom in Christ to do good, we will reap a harvest of eternal blessing.
One day there will be a final judgment. According to Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46, on that day Jesus will sit on his glorious throne, with angels surrounding him, and before him will be every person from every nation, and we will be separated like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
On that day Jesus will place his sheep on the right. These are those who will inherit the Kingdom of God. They will inherit the Kingdom of God because they believed by faith that Jesus is the Son of God, they have surrendered to his Lordship, and they used their freedom to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the shelterless, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned.
On the contrary, Jesus will place the goats on his left. These are those who will inherit hell. Jesus will say to them, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” They will inherit hell because they did not use their freedom to do good. They did not give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the shelterless, clothes to the naked, nor did they visit the sick or those in prison.
Someone might hear that and say, it sure sounds like deeds matter to my salvation! It certainly does sound that way, but it’s not. Let me explain. Jesus said in Matt. 25:45-46, “As you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Doing for the least of these such as: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, providing shelter to the shelterless, giving clothes to the naked, visiting the sick, and visiting those in prison are seen as acts of righteousness. They are seen as actions produced as a result of a person’s heart having been transformed by the grace of God. The good that we do is evidence of salvation. Evidence we are a new creation. Evidence we are filled with the love of God. Evidence we are filled with the compassion of Jesus, because he too showed compassion to the least of these. Evidence we are a disciple of Christ.
On the contrary, people who do not do good to others, including the least of these, even if they claim to be Christian, is evidence their heart has not been transformed by the grace of God. Evidence they are not a new creation. Evidence they are not saved. Evidence they have not been filled with the love of God or the compassion of Jesus. Evidence they are not a disciple of Jesus.
Someone may ask, what about people who do these things but do not believe in Jesus? They remain condemned. There are many people in this world who do good, and that is a good thing, but if they do the good they do without faith in Jesus, they remain condemned in their sin, and will not inherit the Kingdom of God, because God’s kingdom is not inherited by works but by faith. Remember, the Christian does good as a result of faith in Jesus and for the glory of God, not as the means to be saved.
Point 9: So, in conclusion, I want to encourage you to not give up using your freedom to do good.
Paul, in Galatians 6:9 states, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” I know sometimes it may feel worthless to do good in a world that has fallen to sin. I know it is tiring and fatiguing and exhausting and burdensome to keep doing good when you feel like no one cares or when you feel like it is making no difference at all.
But let me encourage you to consider Jesus. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:3, “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Think about the sufferings of Jesus. Jesus was lied about. Jesus was spit on. Jesus was held in court by false pretenses. Jesus was mocked and ridiculed. Jesus was slapped. Jesus had a crown of thorns shoved on his head with thorns extending 1-2 inches. Jesus was tied up to a pole while naked, was lashed 39 times with a whip that had hooks or lead balls on the end, which cut deeply into his skin, exposing muscle, tendons, bone, and even causing partial disembowelment. Then, Jesus had to drag a cross weighing, at the most 300lbs, up to a hill called Golgotha. Then, Jesus was forced to lay on it and had nails extending 7-9 inches hammered into his hands and feet. Then, he was hoisted up, and eventually died by asphyxiation.
Think about why he received all this. All this happened because he showed mercy and compassion to the least of these. All this happened because he healed the sick, the blind, the lame, and the mute. All this happened because he set people free who were possessed by demons. All this happened because he preached he was the Son of God, and that the only way to be saved was by faith in him.
Think about why Jesus did that. He did that for the good of those who hated him. Jesus endured such suffering to save sinners. To save those who mocked him. To save those who beat him. To save those who nailed his hands and feet to the cross. And to save people like me and you. Therefore, when you feel like giving up on doing good in this fallen world, think about Jesus and the hostility he had to endure.
And let me encourage you to consider what awaits you. If you do not give up doing good in a sin-stained world, you will enter into the Kingdom of God where there is no more crying, no more sickness, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more dying, and no more suffering. Where there will be everlasting and eternal joy.
So, don’t give up and don’t grow weary in doing good. It might feel worthless, exhausting, and overbearing at times. But it will be worth it in the end.
Take this encouragement from 1 Corinthians 15:58, “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.” I know it may seem like this world is falling quickly and rapidly spinning into godlessness. But dear reader, dear Christian, don’t give up doing the work of Jesus. Don’t give up because your labor is not in vain, it’s not meaningless and it’s not without a purpose. Even though you may turn on the news and it seems like nothing good is happening in the world; don’t give up doing the good works of Jesus Christ. And even though you might not always see the results of your good works now, one day you will, and you will realize everything you have endured through is worth it.