We are familiar with the idea of “compassion fatigue” – when we hear of so many people across the world that need help (such as victims of famines and other natural disasters, refugees, etc) that we become weary of responding with compassion. I was very struck with a verse in Galatians that introduces another sort of fatigue -what I have labelled “obedience fatigue”.
Galatians 6v9: “Let us not become weary in doing good …”
A weariness, not of compassion, but of doing good. It is possible to become weary of doing all the good things that God commands us to do.
Strikingly, Peter uses this same language of “doing good” and applies it to submitting to those in authority over us.
1 Peter 2v13, 15: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority … For it is God’s will that by doing good …”
One aspect of the “good” that God commands us to do is to is to submit to human authorities.
It is something we can easily get weary of. It seems to me that many people are experiencing that in relation to observing the regulations connected with Covid-19. We see the number infected and dying greatly reduced; we see many others around us simply ignoring the regulations – seemingly without consequence – and we are simply weary of sticking to them, or even of keeping track of what they currently are.
Brothers and sisters, I’m picking up a sense, even from many Christians, of being “creative” in finding ways around actually observing the spirit of the regulations, and in some cases even the letter of the regulations.
That will not do. God urges us, commands us, “let us not become weary in doing good”. Peter says, “submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake”. For God’s sake we should be wholehearted not grudging in our submission. We should not be seeking to find “creative” ways of getting round the spirit of the regulations, we should be humbly submitting to what the government clearly are intending us to do for God’s sake. We should take the trouble to keep “up to speed” with what the regulations are.
In 1 Peter 2 the reason cited is for the sake of our witness: how appalling if non-Christians observe us effectively ignoring flouting the regulations and become cynical about Christianity as a result.
In Galatians 6 the context is what harvest we reap at the final judgment. That is to say, if we become weary of doing good, the genuineness of our faith is in question. We cannot pick and choose which areas of life we are going to obey God in. Repentance leads to “obey(ing) everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28v20).
Let us not lead one another into sin in this regard: “If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9v42).
Clearly we are experiencing God having removed, for the time being, some of the good things that we have enjoyed in the past. At the time of the Exile, God’s people experience a much greater removal of good things. Jeremiah’s comment, in Lamentations, as he felt greatly the pain of all this, was “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young” (Lamentations 3v26-27).
May God give us grace to “wait quietly”, and “let us not become weary of doing good”.
Tim
Catherine RD says
Thank you, Tim, for encouraging us to keep on keeping on!
Initially, during lockdown, the challenge of the regulations appeared temporary, and it was not onerous to comply with a few weeks of a different way of life. However, now it appears that we need to apply ourselves to the long haul, which requires a far deeper level of commitment to endure.
Paul’s statement in Philippians 4.11 immediately comes to mind, ‘for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content’.
Miss Julia Rees says
Thank you for that timely word Tim, and also for such a beautiful song. The lyrics were so moving and totally enhanced by such a lovely tune!! Never heard it before 😉😏
God bless you. Welcome back!
Kathleen says
Thank you Tim, truly a ‘word in season’ as so many of us are finding the restrictions irksome.
The song you chose is very helpful and comforting, both the words and the tune.
Welcome back to you and Wendy. The Lord bless you and all those working so hard to bring us the ministry online.
Kathleen