Never Give Up...
Galatians 6:9-6:9
Never Give Up…
Many of us quit, half way through with what we
have started and we have enough reasons why we do it. Years ago I joined a
college to do my Masters in Divinity course while I was working in a church as
a pastor of the children’s ministry. After enrolling for the course the senior
pastor refused permission to be on a break for a week every six months. I had
to quit. The reason seems genuine. Had I finished the course I wouldn’t have
had struggles when I began my Doctoral program. I still face the consequences
of quitting.
Recently I recalled the incident and this sermon
is a result of such introspection. What does the Bible talk about in terms of
giving up? Does the Bible recommend us to quit or does it urge us not to give
up.
Galatians 6:9 “…for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
What does it mean? The scripture tells us that if
we do not give up on we will surely see the reward of it. For example the farmer
sows his seed and takes the little grown stuff and plants it in the properly
ploughed field. He does not see the grains immediately, he waits for the rain
and the shine at the proper times and then a harvest, during harvest it is not
what he sowed but several measures more than what he had sown. If this is true
for a farmer I am sure the same principle applies for us too. The only thing is
to wait patiently until we see results.
Before getting into the principles of how not to
quit, let us examine few reasons why we quit.
The reasons can be so many; I have tried listing
few of them…
1. Fear of failure.
2. Skepticism I am not the one.
3. I am not trained enough.
4. Someone can do it better than me.
5. I don’t want to be the first, let someone do
it and then I will follow.
6. I have a bitter past experience.
7. This is not my cup of tea.
8. I don’t want to be embarrassed.
9. I am too sensitive to handle failures.
10. My support system is poor.
11. I don’t prefer to risk when all is fine.
12. Why get into a mess?
13. The Pain is too great, I can handle it any
longer
14. The Grass has to be greener on the other side
Some of the reasons are overlapping but still
this is how we feel and reason out to quit and remain a bit satisfied though we
know we can do it more than we have tried.
I want to drive home just two aspects for not
giving up but before that I want to quote few people and their views on never
giving up…
Marilyn von Savant – being defeated is often
temporary, giving up makes it permanent.
Thomas Edison – many of life’s failures are
people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
King Solomon – for an upright man, after falling
seven times, will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)
The first aspect to consider if we decide not to
give up is:
I. Making the most of every opportunity.
(Ephesians 5: 15,16)
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise
but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
The wise person makes the most of the opportunity
but the foolish ones miss out on every opportunity and grumble about their
failures. Grab every chance that you get, never mind whether you fail or win –
the result is secondary what is primary is the attempt. There is nothing wrong
in giving it a try, it might click and we can become experts so I urge you not
to miss a chance. Peter toiled all night at the sea but was willing to give it
a try when Jesus told him to do so. He made the second time more than what if
would have done the first time. He knew he had God on his side. That was
blessed assurance. If we have such confidence we too can try and we will surely
make it by not letting a chance go by. Therefore make the most of every
opportunity and be wise. The second aspect is…
II. Marching Forward. (Philippians 3:13)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have
taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead.
If you have to march forward, you have to forget
about what happened in the past, if we brood over the past more either success
or failure it can ruin us. If we brag about the past success it will makes us
complacent and would never make new attempts at the same time if we brood over
our failures it will diminish the morale and the potential we possess.
Therefore it is important to be moving and not stagnating.
Paul understood this and that is why he is going
ahead with the goal and not worried over the past. If Paul had to think of his
past as wretched man he will have be ashamed for the rest of his life not doing
anything. He overcame the shame and guilt of destroying so many good Christians
and began to be a blessing. He never gave up but carried on.
Dear friends, how about you? Better wise up, make
the most of every opportunity. Never leave room for compromise, March forward
don’t retreat. I think of Henry ford, his first car was not able to even go
faster than the horse chariot, he never gave up and today these cars do well.
The Wright brothers first flying machine fell and broke after it took off to
few feet but they never gave up and today we see planes that fly at a
phenomenal speed at great altitudes. We have Jesus on our side we will surely
be conquerors, not just conquerors but more than conquerors. God bless you.
Treasures in Jars of Clay - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
…8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.…
…8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.…
Cross References
Psalm 37:24
though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 129:2
"they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
Proverbs 24:16
for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Micah 7:8
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
Habakkuk 3:17
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
John 15:20
Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
Psalm 129:2
"they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.
Proverbs 24:16
for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Micah 7:8
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
Habakkuk 3:17
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
John 15:20
Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
2 Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Treasury of Scripture
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
but.
cast.
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