Chesley Christian wrote on Facebook about a Christian friend who we will call Dan.  Dan is considered a solid Christian who has been abstinent for years and is ready for a wife. However, he has become impatient in waiting for God to send him “the one.” When an attractive co-worker approached Dan requesting a short fling, he consented. Dan knew it was wrong and that the relationship wouldn’t last long, but he said he was “tired of doing the right thing” and he had “needs.” Deeply saddened, Chesley wrote, “Too many times I have encountered Christian singles who are sexually tempted, because they were tired of doing the right thing for so long.”

It is a reality that many Christians become tired of doing the right thing. Even after years of physical purity, Bible reading, maintaining sound doctrine, church attendance, and actively serving the Savior, Christ’s blood bought-believers are prone to waver. Too many simply stop doing the right thing. The same was true in the days of the Apostle Paul. He pled with the saints “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing” (II Thessalonians 3:13). Elsewhere he explained how and why Christians must remain faithful. In Galatians 6:9, Paul’s encouragement was, “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). While we Christians often reap satisfying spiritual blessing from doing right in this life, we will receive bountiful eternal reward if we keep our eyes fixed on the prize of the high calling in Christ. As someone once said, “We must not sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” Paul also pointed out the motivation of opportunity and responsibility in ministry. He told the Corinthians, “Therefore, seeing we have this ministry… we faint not” (II Corinthians 4:1). We must remain faithful because others are counting on our faithfulness. Additionally, sometimes when we falter we never return to a proper walk, nor do opportunities to effectively serve Christ as before. Paul also reminded the saints of their source of strength by saying, “…though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (II Corinthians 4:16). God does not expect us to continue to do the right thing in our own strength. He provides the spiritual strength needed when we stay in His Word daily.

Have you grown weary in well doing? The stakes are too high to shrink from the ranks of the faithful. Keep doing the right thing.