2 Thessalonians 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Among the Thessalonians some were acting inconsistently. But while the apostle reproved such, and directed the Church to withdraw from them, they were not to be given up in despair. The Church was not to weary in their reclamation. I. THE CAUSES OF WEARINESS IN WELL-DOING. 1. Love of novelty. This works in us when our own interests are concerned, and much more when the interests of others only are at stake. To go on in a steady course of kind exertion requires great strength of principle and perseverance. On first hearing of a distressing tale our feelings are strongly agitated, but by degrees ardour naturally cools. Familiarity with suffering blunts the edge of the feelings towards it. Some new object presents itself which engenders remissness towards the former one. 2. Want of success. Having been disappointed we are apt to become tired, discouraged, despairing. The sinner we have tried to reclaim seems inveterate, the enemy we have endeavoured to conciliate is implacable, and the temptation is to abandon an apparently impossible task. 3. Injurious treatment. We may have met with ingratitude, or been deceived by designing persons; our attempts at conciliation have only inflamed resentment; reproach and calumny seems the only fruit of our labour. In these and other cases the temptation to desist from our labour of love is strong. II. SOME CONSIDERATIONS WHICH MAY HELP TO OPPOSE THIS TENDENCY. 1. The example of Christ. This is binding on all His followers. Was He weary in well-doing? Remember the ingratitude, reproach, and persecution He endured. 2. The conduct of Christ toward yourself. While He has been forward to do you good, have you not abused His kindness? He might justly have been wearied of you, and shall you then be wearied of well-doing to your fellow-creatures? "Freely ye have received, freely give." 3. There is an express promise given to perseverance in well-doing. "In due time we shall reap if we faint not." (E. Cooper.) Parallel Verses KJV: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. WEB: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. |
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