Good and Proper

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Yielding returns for hard work is a benefit of life. In elementary school we’re rewarded with gold stars. In high school our hard work achieves A’s and B’s. Even in our jobs, our “harvest” consists of bi-monthly paychecks, vacation time, and bonuses at Christmas. Yet what happens when our rewards for doing good seem to fall behind schedule? The paycheck never arrives, and there is no red-penned “Good Work!” shimmering from atop a progress report. We grow weary and discouraged. We look around and question if the sweat and strain is worth our time and effort. Face it, without at least one gold star, or one grain of wheat ripe for the plucking, we contemplate giving up.

The fact of the matter is, our reward for doing good isn’t a matter “if”, but “when.” “For at the proper time we will reap a harvest,” we read. And just what is proper?

- Personal. Your time isn’t your friends’ time. It’s impossible to compare how God works in one life, verses how he works in another.

- Relational. The proper time for your harvest is interconnected with God’s plan for others. Interconnected rewards result from interrelated lives in the body of Christ.

- Out of Sight. The harvest we reap isn’t always visible, but it is often “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

- Permanent. While we may reap the benefit of small harvests here on earth, our ultimate reward is eternal life—a gift that can never be snatch away.

- Exact. Our God who designed the intricate and complex universe knows the precise time for you to reap your harvest.

- Resolved. The "when" is determined and is waiting in God’s hands. Now, it’s your job to set your jaw in determination and continue on!

When is the last time you became weary from doing good? Remember, God's rewards may not be evident in your life today, but they are far better than any gold star!