For When You’ve Grown Tired of Doing Good

Most of us want to do good. Kindness is inherent in who we are as Christ-followers, the love we share for one another a sign of our faith. But what do you do if you’ve been burned and it feels like the “giving” has become one-sided—or if you’re the one in desperate need? It’s tempting to pull back and clench our hands instead of opening them to those in need.

A Do-Good Reminder

“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” – Hebrews 13:16

The writer of Hebrews felt it necessary to remind God’s people to do good. Share, give your life. See the need and meet it. The “why” comes back to the foundation of our Christian walk: to please God. To bring delight to our Heavenly Father as He sees His kids loving, helping, serving—being His hands and feet to the world around us.

“You will always harvest what you plant.”- Galatians 6:7

Our society and especially social media breed the desire for instant gratification. But any farmer or urban gardener will tell you that good things take time. The seed you planted yesterday or this morning in line at the coffee shop needs time to produce, to soak up the nutrients and water until it bursts forth through the soil and proves that God’s word is true.

Seedtime and harvest, sowing and reaping, giving and receiving. God really does watch over the seeds you plant. Doing good pleases His heart.

Doing Good in Faith

Years ago, there was a widow in a desperate situation. Very literally, she was fixing a last meal for her and her son, when along came Elijah the prophet. “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand,” he asked of her.

She had a choice in this situation. Either to give and believe that somehow God would take care of her—or to hold back and ignore the opportunity to do good. The backstory is that God told Elijah that He had commanded this widow to provide for him. (See 1 Kings 17:8.)

“But Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first.’” – 1 Kings 17:13

This widow bravely did as she was asked. She served Elijah and then miraculously, the Bible tells us that her family continued to eat for many days! She sacrificially gave in faith and God wonderfully responded with provision. She sowed—and God gave the increase that provided for her and her son.

If you’ve grown weary in well-doing, pause and pray. Let the Lord renew and reassure your heart. Perhaps you’re the provision for someone else, just like the widow of Zarapheth was God’s vessel of provision for Elijah.

“Now may the God of peace… equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him…” – Hebrews 13:20-21