And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
— Galatians 6:9

Today I am thinking about people who have sown their financial seed into the soil of their churches or of their good ministries. Or perhaps they have sown love, kindness, forgiveness, and patience into their relationships, and now they are waiting for a return or a harvest on what they have sown.

Maybe you have been trusting God for a desire of your heart to burst forth in your life, but have gotten discouraged during the time of waiting between the seed sown and the harvest reaped. I want to encourage you not to quit before you’ve received what you’ve been expecting. You can rest assured that if you won’t give up, God certainly won’t fail to perform His Word for you! In fact, Galatians 6:9 promises: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

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I want to talk to you about not being discouraged while you wait for your seed to grow and your harvest to be reaped. First I’ll tell you a story from my childhood. When I was a boy, I decided to grow corn, so I carefully measured the rows along the backside of my father’s garage, prepared the ground, and then meticulously planted the seeds. What a beautiful little garden it was, and I was so proud of it!

Every day before school, I’d run to that little patch to see if anything had pierced the soil during the night. When I got home from school, I’d run back to that garden to see if anything became visible while I was away for the day. Before I’d go to bed at night, I’d return to see if my seeds were producing anything I could visibly see. Finally, I got so impatient waiting to see results that I told myself, Nothing is happening with my seeds. I need to dig them up and see if they are defective.

So just as meticulously as I had planted the seeds, I began to dig them up one at a time to see if anything was happening below the surface. By the time I was done, there before my eyes, cupped in my hands, were all the seeds I’d planted, uprooted by my own doing. The little pile of seeds had a tangled mass of roots and little shoots that had begun to grow upward toward the surface of the soil. But because I became impatient waiting for the “due season” of my corn, I completely ruined my harvest. After all the hard work I’d done, I had dug up my seeds and ruined them.

The next year I decided to return to the patch behind the garage to do it again. But this time, I was determined that I would wait for those seeds to produce. I had learned not to dig up my seeds. Finally, the day came when I saw tiny green shoots pierce through the soil. Whew — I was so excited! Day after day I watched as the little shoots grew taller and taller. Everything was going great — until little Ricky Renner once again became impatient.

The cornstalks were tall, and ears of corn were already on the stalks. But it seemed like the ears of corn were taking too long to get bigger and to mature. I began to wonder, Is something wrong with this corn? Shouldn’t it be growing faster? I inwardly argued, Maybe insects are eating it below the husks, or maybe this corn is simply defective.

So instead of staying on track and being patient, I pulled every ear of corn off the stalks and peeled back the husks to see what was happening inside. There in front of my eyes were perfectly formed ears of corn with everything intact. But because I pulled them off the stalks too early, I destroyed my harvest again. If I had not given in to impatience, it wouldn’t have been much longer before I would have been eating fresh corn. It wasn’t insects, weather, or the devil that destroyed my harvest — it was me!

The seeds were working perfectly both times I ruined my harvest. With this thought in mind, let’s return to Paul’s admonition in Galatians 6:9 that says, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” None of us wants to lose our harvest, so I want to look at seven key words today: 1) “weary,” 2) “well,” 3) “doing,” 4) “due season,” 5) “reap,” 6) “if,” and 7) “faint.”

1. The word “weary” is the word egkakeo, a compound of the Greek words en and kakos. The word en in this case means to give in, and the word kakeo is a form of kakos, a word frequently used to denote something that is evil, destructive, or even unjust. But when these words are compounded, the new word depicts one who is tempted to give up because he feels accosted by an evil, destructive, or unjust person or circumstance. Have you ever tried hard to do what is right, but felt crushed or continually resisted by some circumstance or person? Has that opposition caused you to feel tempted to throw in the towel? In spite of the destructive forces that may have tried to rail against you or loom over your life, even if a truly unjust situation has reared its ugly head against you, God commands you to not surrender to the temptation to become weary and give up. He is the One who says, “Let us not be weary in well doing.…”
2. The word “well” is the Greek word kalos, which means good but would be better translated here as useful. The word “good” itself is too broad a term and leaves one wondering what is included. But when it is more accurately translated as the word “useful,” it gives clarity that a “good” work is a “useful” work. This suggests that there are “unuseful” works. Indeed, there is a lot of energy and time expended on things that have no benefit to anyone. But Paul’s use of the word kalos tells us that we must focus on those works that are “useful” with some type of measurable results. This tells us that what is sown is not only financial seeds, but also good deeds.
3. The word “doing” is from the Greek word poieo and refers to any type of activity. It can even carry the idea of creative doing when the action doesn’t come easily or naturally. In other words, if we can’t easily see a way to do something that is beneficial, it’s time for us to get creative! God is looking for us to be consistent and productive with useful works. It must be noted that this word, as used here, is also a participle. This means it is ongoing, uninterrupted action. In other words, the type of “well doing” that Paul described is not a one-time event, but an ongoing action. It is a lifestyle of sowing seeds and deeds.
4. Paul promised that “in due season,” we shall reap a harvest for our efforts. The words “due season” are idios and kairos. The word idios means its own. The word kairos refers to a set season. Thus, each seed has its own set season — a specific, individual time when it will produce a harvest. Even if many multiple seeds of different kinds are all planted at one time, each has its own season to be reaped, depending on the nature of the seed. One seed produces during one set season, while another seed is reaped during a different season. Thus, it is a mistake to judge our seed and its time of harvest by the harvest time of other seeds, because each seed has its unique set season to mature. We just need to remember God’s promise: If we are consistent — if we steadfastly keep sowing our seed into the ground and refuse to allow weariness to derail us — a time will come when we shall reap.
5. The words “shall reap” are from the word therismos, a word that describes the reaping or harvesting of crops. What is important to note is that the Greek tense describes a future, fixed event. Hence, the harvest is in the future, but it is fixed and guaranteed to happen — if we will do our part and stay on course. This is why Paul continued by saying, “…if we faint not.”
6. The word “if ” tells us that our actions have the power to disrupt a harvest — just as I twice disrupted the reaping of my corn crop! Paul added the word “if ” to help us understand that our consistency and refusal to surrender for any reason is vital in reaching the set season of our seed. If we “faint” at any point along the way, we can jeopardize the long-term harvest of what we have sown.
7. The word “faint” is the Greek word ekluo, a compound of the words ek and luo. The word ek means out, and the word luo means to loosen or to relax. When compounded, the new word means to loosen out. It is a relaxed mental state that results in loss. It pictures a person who has become so weary that he gives up and forfeits what he had long awaited and was so close to reaping. As a result, the person loses the desired outcome that was so near. Pressures applied against this person have unraveled him, causing his grip to slacken until the answer he was holding on to slips from his hands. The result is loss. In the case of Galatians 6:9, he has lost a harvest.

The most common factor that causes us to loosen our grip is when we become “weary.” Thus, Paul urges us not to give in and quit in times of spiritual, physical, or mental exhaustion.

It’s exciting to plant seeds of faith, and it’s really exciting when the harvest comes — that moment when your faith finally turns into sight! But in order to reach that point, you must hold tight to what God has told you and remember that your seed — whether it’s financial seed or seeds of uninterrupted, useful deeds toward others — has a set season when it will produce, if you do not disrupt the process. As long as you stay the course, it is guaranteed that you will reap what you have planted.

Many people have consistently sowed their finances or kind actions toward others. Often they are tempted to quit just because they become tired. Although they are trying to be obedient, they may feel unappreciated. Perhaps circumstances out of their control are coming against them, or someone is treating them unjustly.

Maybe you have experienced the temptation to give up. But Galatians 6:9 urges you not to loosen your grip on your future, fixed harvest! If you will remain steadfast, the time of waiting will eventually end and your harvest will come! It may not come at the time you were hoping it would — but regardless, don’t dig up your seed or pull the ears of corn off the stalks too early! The seeds you have sown have a set season, and God promises they will produce — if you don’t do something to disrupt the process!

I don’t know what you’re trusting God for in this present season of your life. We are all believing for something and sowing seeds toward it. Perhaps no one knows but you because you’ve kept it between you and the Lord. Maybe it’s a financial harvest, a breakthrough in a relationship, a physical healing, or a restoration in some other area. Maybe this harvest is taking longer than you had anticipated.

But I want to reassure you that God’s Word and His promises are eternal, and if you just won’t quit, it’s only a matter of time until your long-awaited blessing arrives. God’s Word is absolutely true, so I encourage you to remain steadfast and keep thanking Him for the harvest He has in store that’s been tailor-made just for you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I ask You to help me be patient as I wait for the seeds I’ve sown to grow and be multiplied back into my life. It seems like it has taken a long time, but I will not loosen my grip on the fixed, future harvest You have planned for me. You are the Lord of the harvest, so I fix my eyes on You and trust that You have set a season for my seeds and deeds to reach their full growth so I can enjoy the harvest of my endeavors. You are faithful; Your Word is true; and today I rest in those truths!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly declare that I will continue to release my faith and believe for God to multiply the seeds and deeds I have sown in the past. At times, weariness has tried to attack me, injustice has been done to me, and other outside pressures have made me feel tempted to throw in the towel. But I will not surrender to any pressure to bend, break, or give up on God’s promise that I will enter a season of reaping a harvest from the good seed I have sown. The Holy Spirit will empower me to hold tight, hang on, and remain steady and steadfast until I reap my harvest and enjoy the fruit of my faith and labor!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!